Rural Dev Ministry expands permissible VB–GRAM-G works by 41%, notifies 375 categories

Water security gets 128 works; 98 linked to livelihoods, 38 to disaster preparedness and climate resilience

Ziraat Times Spotlight

New Delhi, October 6: The Ministry of Rural Development has notified 375 permissible works under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025, expanding the scope of rural works by 41 per cent compared with the 266 works under the previous framework.

The new Schedule reorganises permissible works around four broad pillars — Water Security, Core Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood-related Infrastructure, and Special Works for Extreme Weather Events and Disaster Preparedness.

The Ministry said in a notification received by Ziraat Times said the new framework seeks to link wage employment with the creation of durable rural assets and measurable development outcomes. Works will be identified through decentralised planning under the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan and approved by the Gram Sabha, with implementation to be tracked through the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

Water security accounts for largest share

Water Security has the largest allocation, with 128 permissible works. These include check dams, gully plugs, underground dykes, recharge shafts, injection wells, rejuvenation of rivers, rivulets and nallahs, reclamation of waterlogged land and renovation of field water-distribution channels.

The Schedule also covers drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, rooftop rainwater harvesting and tankas, besides interventions such as ice-stupas and artificial glaciers for water conservation and irrigation.

111 works for core rural infrastructure

The Core Rural Infrastructure category comprises 111 works aimed at strengthening essential civic and community infrastructure in villages.

These include solar street lighting, waste-to-wealth recycling plants, greywater treatment units, segregation sheds, rural libraries, veterinary and rural health centres, Common Service Centres, multipurpose youth centres, community facilities, and additional classrooms and laboratories in government schools.

The framework also provides for repair and maintenance of Jal Jeevan Mission water-supply infrastructure, rural parks, footpaths and other village-level amenities.

Livelihood infrastructure gets major expansion

Livelihood-related Infrastructure accounts for 98 works, marking a significant shift towards strengthening rural livelihoods and local value chains.

The works include agro-processing and value-addition infrastructure, cleaning, grading and packaging units, cold storage facilities, mini flour mills, market yards, dairy infrastructure, mushroom cultivation sheds, sericulture sheds, poly-houses and aquaculture structures.

Infrastructure for Self-Help Groups and their federations is also covered, including SHG worksheds, SHE Marts and federation buildings, besides training-cum-skill development centres.

According to the Ministry, livelihood-related works now account for 26 per cent of the permissible works, compared with 1.1 per cent under the previous framework.

38 works focus on disaster preparedness

For the first time, a dedicated category for extreme weather events and disaster preparedness has been incorporated, comprising 38 works.

These include flood relief shelters, retaining walls, embankment strengthening, flood protection works, post-disaster restoration of rural roads and community assets, and forest-fire management measures such as fire lines and fuel-buffer zones.

The category is intended to strengthen rural communities and infrastructure against floods, cyclones, storms, droughts, landslides, forest fires and other extreme weather events.

181 works linked to agriculture and allied activities

The Schedule places particular emphasis on farmers, vulnerable households, women and rural youth.

As many as 181 works are categorised as agriculture and allied works, including 52 individual-beneficiary works covering water, land, plantations, livestock and other productive assets intended to directly support farmers.

Another 107 works are tagged for Antyodaya and vulnerable households, including 68 individual-beneficiary works. These cover housing, sanitation, energy, irrigation, plantations, livestock shelters and other household-level assets.

The framework also includes 36 works related to Nari Shakti and 36 related to Yuva Shakti, covering infrastructure for women’s collectives, SHGs and federations, youth centres, skill development and enterprise-linked infrastructure.

Focus on inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure

The new Schedule includes provisions for Divyangjan accessibility, including stairs and ramps in government buildings.

It also provides for emergency evacuation and relief shelters in border areas, renewable-energy infrastructure and circular-economy interventions such as waste-to-wealth recycling and greywater treatment.

The Ministry said the expanded Schedule is intended to align rural employment generation with water security, durable infrastructure, livelihood creation, climate resilience and inclusive development, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Source: Ministry of Rural Development/PIB