Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Jan: Uttarakhand BJP has described the VB–G RAM G Scheme as a comprehensive roadmap for building a developed India through strong and self-reliant villages. State BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt today alleged that the opposition is resorting to misinformation regarding the scheme because it would shut down what he termed the ‘shops of corruption’ that flourished during their regimes. He asserted that while opposition parties may continue forming committees to oppose the scheme, the country will keep moving forward on the path of development inspired by the ideals of Ram.
Responding to questions from the media in this regard, Bhatt said that under the decisive political will of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the long-cherished dream of the Ram temple was fulfilled and that the resolve of building a developed India is now being pursued with equal commitment. He stated that ideas such as VB-G RAM G represent a unique confluence of faith and development and are aimed at strengthening villages. He claimed that the scheme symbolises the national renaissance rooted in the ideals of Lord Ram. He described the scheme as a visionary blueprint that seeks to make villages self-reliant while laying the foundation for a developed nation.
Bhatt claimed that the implementation of the scheme would usher in transparency and establish an honest system of governance. He said the scheme would provide greater benefits to workers as compared to the now-discontinued Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He also asserted that under the new Act, the number of guaranteed workdays has been increased from 100 to 125. He further said that the scheme has been integrated with initiatives related to water conservation, infrastructure development, climate change adaptation and livelihood enhancement, while also incorporating disaster mitigation measures, which he described as particularly beneficial for disaster-prone states such as Uttarakhand.
He said that development works under the scheme would now be decided by gram panchayats and linked to major programmes such as PM Gati Shakti, enabling villagers to be informed about development activities taking place in and around their areas. Emphasising full digitalisation of the scheme, Bhatt said wages would be paid within 15 days, failing which interest would be provided. He added that the budget allocation has been increased to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, allowing for a significantly higher volume of development works, and stated that except for hill states, others would bear responsibilities in a 60:40 ratio, remarking that objections were coming only from those with dishonest intentions.
Mahendra Bhatt rejected as completely baseless the Congress claims regarding the Developed India Employment Guarantee and Rural Livelihood Mission, accusing opposition parties of carrying out sponsored misinformation campaigns to mislead people about the Centre’s rural employment guarantee initiatives. He alleged that the Congress had turned MGNREGA into a tool of corruption. He further alleged that the Congress and other parties were also opposing the new Act because of discomfort with the inclusion of the word ‘Ram’ in its abbreviated name, claiming this reflected an inability to accept even an indirect reference to Indian culture or Hindu traditions
Bhatt asserted that the Congress, acting at the behest of its high command, would continue forming committees to oppose the scheme, but rural development would move ahead regardless.
