Merger of Some Free Schemes in VB-GRAM G : The Need of the Hour
Dr. Pardeep Kumar, Prof. of Economics, NIILM University, Kaithal (Haryana)
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-GRAM G] has been introduced in place of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). The main objective of VB-GRAM G is to provide employment to rural households for 125 days in place of 100 days. Expenditure will be borne on a 60:40 basis by the Central and State Governments. The scheme primarily focuses on rural employment and rural livelihoods (Ajeevika). In this way, the scheme aims to increase rural income, enhance skills, and promote infrastructure development. It will be implemented through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and will be connected with the PM Gati Shakti Yojna.
The main focus of this scheme is on four priority areas:-
(i) Rural Infrastructure (ii) Livelihood Infrastructure
(iii) Water Security (iv) Climate resilience
No doubt, MGNREGA played a key role in reducing poverty from 25.7% in 2011-12 to 4.86% in 2023-24, however, in the age of globalization, many changes have taken place. Hence, the VB-GRAM G scheme will take place keeping in view the globalized economic system. This scheme is also helpful for farmers because work will be stopped for 60 days during peak agricultural seasons in support of farming activities. The scheme includes provisions for AI-based monitoring, real-time dashboards, and mandatory social audits. No doubt, this scheme is good enough but free foodgrains distribution program under Gareeb Kalyaan Ann Yojana needs to be taken under this new scheme and those who enjoy this scheme should also be absorbed into productive economic activities. Under VB-GRAM G, those who do not find employment will be provided unemployment allowances. Nevertheless, they should also be involved in some activities like tree plantation and protection, cleanliness campaigns, filling the pits during rainy season, and construction work accordingly. In addition to it, educated individuals receiving unemployment allowances should be engaged to literate the illiterates to achieve the target of 100 percent literacy rate which will help for higher rate of economic growth later on. In fact, beneficiaries of free schemes need to be absorbed into various economic activities to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat. Hence, the effective implementation of the VB-GRAM G scheme is the need of the hour. Above all, if all the able, honest, sincere, and efficient individuals actively participate in economic activities, then India can achieve the target of higher economic growth rate on the one hand and the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 on the other.