India Deploys 100 Officers for Rural Jobs Overhaul Launch

The Indian government is sending more than 100 area officers across the country to help states and union territories shift to the new rural employment framework, the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G. The deployment is one of the final steps before the 1 July launch.

The officers will work with state governments, district administrations, and field-level staff to support implementation, build local capacity, and handle operational issues, the ministry of rural development said in a statement on Friday. Rural development secretary Rohit Kansal said the mechanism is meant to strengthen coordination between the Centre and states as the new framework takes effect.

“The officers have already undergone orientation on key aspects of the Act, including implementation procedures, institutional arrangements, technology platforms and support systems available to states,” Kansal said.

The officers will assess implementation readiness, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and help resolve issues during the transition, according to the ministry. The goal is uniform implementation and institutional support in the programme's early months.

VB-G RAM G replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as the government's primary rural employment framework. It broadens the scope by integrating livelihood promotion, rural infrastructure creation, climate resilience, and technology-enabled governance into a single structure.