Employment guarantee increased to 125 days; focus on agriculture, technology and resilient rural infrastructure
Srinagar, June 24: The Jammu & Kashmir government has notified the Jammu Kashmir Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM-G] Scheme, 2026, which will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) programme across the Union Territory from July 1, 2026.
The notification was issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha under Section 3(1) read with Section 8 of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The new scheme is aimed at strengthening rural employment and livelihoods in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Under the scheme, every eligible rural household willing to undertake unskilled manual work will be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment annually, an increase from the 100-day guarantee available under MGNREGA. Authorities will be required to provide employment within 15 days of demand, failing which applicants will be entitled to an unemployment allowance.
The scheme also mandates weekly wage payments or payment within a fortnight and provides compensation in cases of delays.
In a significant departure from the previous framework, VB-G RAM-G introduces a mandatory 60-day suspension of public works during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to ensure adequate labour availability for agricultural activities. Officials said the measure is intended to protect farm productivity while maintaining rural employment opportunities.
The programme prioritises the creation of durable community assets and livelihood-supporting infrastructure across four key sectors—water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement, and climate and disaster resilience.
Planning and execution of projects will be carried out through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs), using GIS-based tools and PM Gati Shakti layers to improve coordination, prevent duplication and ensure saturation-based development.
The scheme provides special support to vulnerable groups, including single women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), released bonded labourers and transgender persons through dedicated Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards. At least one-third of the beneficiaries under the programme will be women.
A major feature of the new framework is its technology-driven governance architecture. It includes biometric and face-authenticated attendance systems, geofencing, GPS-enabled project monitoring, AI-based analytics, real-time dashboards, bilingual electronic muster rolls and mandatory public disclosures at worksites.
To preserve the employment-generation objective of the programme, the use of contractors and labour-displacing machinery has been prohibited.
The implementation framework provides for institutional oversight at the Union Territory, district, block and Gram Panchayat levels. Gram Panchayats will continue to function as the primary implementing agencies, responsible for household registration, receiving work applications, issuing guarantee cards and executing approved projects.
The scheme will operate as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 90:10 funding ratio between the Government of India and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Officials said administrative expenditure has been enhanced to strengthen staffing, monitoring, grievance redressal and accountability mechanisms, with substantial allocations earmarked for Gram Panchayat-level functionaries.
The scheme also incorporates a time-bound grievance redress mechanism, mandatory social audits, independent evaluations and multi-tier monitoring arrangements to ensure transparency and accountability.
According to the government, the enhanced employment guarantee, agriculture-sensitive design, technology-enabled governance framework and emphasis on sustainable rural infrastructure are expected to promote inclusive and resilient rural development across Jammu & Kashmir.
