Garhwal Post Bureau
New Tehri, 28 Jan: A media workshop on Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025 was organised at the District Magistrate’s Office Auditorium, New Tehri, under the aegis of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Dehradun, today. The objective of the workshop was to disseminate information regarding the provisions and benefits of the mission to the general public through the media.
The workshop was inaugurated by Chief Guest and Tehri MLA Kishore Upadhyay by lighting the ceremonial lamp. On this occasion Nitika Khandelwal, District Magistrate, Tehri Garhwal, Sanjeev Sundriyal, Assistant Director, PIB, Mohammad Aslam, District Development Officer, Avinash Saini, Executive Engineer, PMGSY, along with representatives from various media organisations of the district were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Kishore Upadhyay said that the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025 is a significant initiative aimed at ensuring employment and income security for people standing at the last mile of society. He stated that under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025, special emphasis has been laid on increasing employment opportunities along with the creation of sustainable rural infrastructure.
Assuring that the suggestions, doubts and grassroots-level issues raised during the workshop would be placed before the State and Central Government, he said that priority should be given to works related to water security, rural connectivity, livelihood-based infrastructure, network connectivity and mitigation of extreme weather events. This would help make villages self-reliant and empowered.
On the occasion, District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal stated that the practical challenges likely to arise while implementing the VB G RAM G Act, the new form of MGNREGA, would be clearly presented at the government level so that the benefits of the scheme could reach eligible beneficiaries smoothly. She also urged the media to cooperate in ensuring accurate dissemination of information about government schemes to the public.
During the workshop, Assistant Director, PIB, Sanjeev Sundriyal elaborated on the objectives of the VB G RAM G Act, stating that the primary aim of the Act is to generate employment in rural areas and strengthen income security for families. He informed that under the scheme, the employment guarantee per rural household has been increased to 125 days, ensuring greater income security compared to earlier provisions. He further stated that the Mission integrates wage-based employment with sustainable rural infrastructure across four priority areas. Emphasising the importance of the media, he highlighted its crucial role in the successful implementation and outreach of the scheme.
District Development Officer Mohammad Aslam provided detailed information regarding MGNREGA and the Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Ajeevika Guarantee Mission (Gramin) Act 2025, stating that it is the only scheme that provides a legal guarantee of employment even to unskilled workers. He stated that work must be provided within 15 days of demand for employment, failing which unemployment allowance becomes payable.
He further stated that the scheme ensures equal wages for equal work and guarantees 33 percent participation of women. Under the scheme, the entire wage component is borne by the Central Government, while State Governments are responsible for implementation and monitoring. He also shared that under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025, a wage-based employment guarantee of 125 days is provided, ensuring income security beyond the earlier eligibility of 100 days. For financing the scheme, the cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and States has been fixed at 60:40 for general states and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states.
Executive Engineer, PMGSY, Avinash Saini, through a presentation on rural road schemes, informed that improved road connectivity would accelerate social and economic development in rural areas.
The dialogue-based media workshop was moderated by senior journalist Devendra Dumoga. On this occasion, New Tehri Press Club President Anurag Uniyal, General Secretary Vijay Gusain, representatives of various media organisations, Gram Pradhan of Dikhol village Balwant Rawat, along with other officials and dignitaries, were also present.
