Overview
- The state resumed work under the central rural employment guarantee scheme from June, with the government saying the Centre approved generation of 1.5 crore mandays for the month to restore rural wages and work opportunities.
- Minister Dilip Ghosh announced an automated switch to a new scheme called VB‑G RAM G from July 1, under which eligible job‑card families would be entitled to 125 days of paid work per year including 60 legally prescribed ‘work‑free’ days.
- Officials presented projected financing and scale for the new scheme, saying expenditure will be shared 60:40 between Centre and State, the annual outlay is expected to exceed Rs 12,850 crore, and the scheme could cover over 2.5 crore job‑card holders.
- The government also flagged parallel moves to speed rural infrastructure and services, citing in‑principle approval for about 2,790 km of PMGSY roads and 45 bridges plus a fresh Awas Plus 2024 beneficiary survey with door‑to‑door teams and an online self‑assessment option.
- To strengthen delivery and oversight, the Panchayats ministry announced special audits covering at least 10% of Gram Panchayats, transfers and recruitment in village administrations, an SHG and credit push through WBSRLM, and assurances on job security for contractual panchayat staff.