Rasulpur, July 13 [UDN}: A workshop on the Viksit Bharat Guaranteed Employment and Livelihood Mission-Gramin (VBG-RAM-G) was held on Thursday in the conference hall of the Rasulpur Block Office.
The workshop was attended by BDO Satyananda Das, ABDO Sarada Prasanna Mohanty, Gram Panchayat Development Officer Sourav Pal and other officials. They informed Panchayat representatives, Junior Engineers and Executive Officers about the new law, VBG-RAM-G, and its implementation procedures, which came into force across the state from July 10.
The VBG-RAM-G Act was introduced in the country in December 2025 and was adopted by the Odisha Government on June 11, 2026. The provisions of the Act have been implemented from July 10, 2026.
Replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the new legislation aims to promote village development, creation of durable assets, increase in Panchayat income and transformation of villages into developed communities by 2047.
During the workshop, officials explained the role of VBG-RAM-G and highlighted several significant changes introduced in the new law compared to the previous one.
Earlier, job card holders were entitled to 100 days of employment in a financial year. Under the new law, each family will receive an Employment Guarantee Card, which will ensure 125 days of work annually.
The new legislation places emphasis on four major future challenges:
1. Conservation of water resources,
2. Development of rural infrastructure,
3. Improvement of livelihoods, and
4. Mitigation of natural disasters.
To achieve these objectives, Panchayat-level development plans will now be prepared covering 318 subjects, compared to 266 subjects under the previous framework. An additional 52 development areas have been included to accelerate rural development.
The BDO informed that if employment cannot be provided, beneficiaries will receive unemployment allowance. Similarly, if wages are not paid within 15 days of completion of work, financial compensation will be provided to the workers.
Under this scheme, Sarpanches and Panchayat Executive Officers have been advised to select development projects through Gram Sabha meetings. They have also been directed to ensure that, by July 30, all Panchayats finalize and submit to the Block Office their Panchayat Development Plans and the approved list of beneficiaries for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana through Gram Sabha resolutions.
Officials from various departments, including line departments and soil conservation wings, participated in the workshop and shared information about the scheme.
Sarpanches, Panchayat Executive Officers and Junior Engineers from various Panchayats under the block attended the workshop and raised several questions regarding the new law. Resource Officer Das clarified their doubts, while APO Suchismita Jena delivered the vote of thanks.
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