Key Highlights
- The number of permissible works under VBG-RAM-G has increased to 375 from 266 under MGNREGA, a rise of about 41%.
- The Union Rural Development Ministry has issued a notification listing the new works.
- 128 works relate to water security, the largest of the four categories.
- Rural infrastructure includes health centers, libraries, solar street lights, recycling units and grey water treatment facilities.
- Livelihood infrastructure covers cold storages, grading and packaging units, dairy, mushroom sheds, poly houses and aquaculture.
- Disaster preparedness works include flood shelters, embankments, fire lines and restoration of rural roads and community assets.
Ranchi: The scope of rural employment and development works under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin (VBG-RAM-G) has been expanded, with the Union rural development ministry notifying a new list of 375 permissible works. The earlier MGNREGA list had 266 works, meaning the scope has increased by around 41%. The new framework gives greater space to water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood-related assets and disaster preparedness.
Water Security Gets the Largest Share
Of the 375 works, 128 are related to water security, followed by 111 under core rural infrastructure, 98 under livelihood infrastructure and 38 under disaster preparedness. Water related works include check dams, underground dams, recharge soak pits, irrigation wells, revival of small rivers and drains, restoration of water distribution channels and improvement of waterlogged land. Drip and sprinkler irrigation, rooftop rainwater harvesting, ice stupas and artificial glaciers have also been included.
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The core rural infrastructure category covers a wider range of community facilities. Villages can now take up works related to libraries, health centers, solar street lights, recycling plants, grey-water treatment units and waste segregation sheds. Veterinary and rural health centers, Common Service Centers, laboratories, rural parks, pedestrian paths and other community infrastructure have also been included. The livelihood category brings in facilities such as grading and packaging units, cold storages, mini flour mills, agricultural market complexes, dairy units, mushroom sheds, sericulture facilities, poly houses and aquaculture infrastructure.
New Focus on Disaster Preparedness
The new list also provides for disaster-related works covering floods, drought and forest fires, with separate provisions for different seasons. Flood shelters, protection walls, strengthening of embankments and other flood protection works can now be taken up, along with restoration of rural roads and community assets after disasters. For forest fire prevention, the list includes works such as fire lines and fuel buffer zones, giving rural development programmes a larger role in preparing villages for climate and disaster related risks.
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