UP CM Yogi Adityanath hails Viksit Bharat G Ram G Act 2025; rural employment extended to 125 days, permanent assets, tech-based monitoring introduced.
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the Viksit Bharat G Ram G Act, 2025, as a historic step toward rural India’s transformation, made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership. Highlighting its important aspects, he added that the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act, 2025, was adopted to enhance permanent rural infrastructure and expand employment possibilities, marking a watershed moment in the country’s rural development efforts.
Speaking to media at Lok Bhawan, the Chief Minister stated, “Those who had plundered the country’s resources for decades, pushing the poor to hunger and forcing youth into unemployment and migration, are now hesitant to support transparent reforms.”
He continued: “Uttar Pradesh stands to gain the most from the Act, which will be implemented in the state with a renewed and stronger guarantee of employment.”
He continued: “Such reforms would invite public scrutiny over why these steps were not taken when those parties were in power.”
Criticizing the Congress and the Indi coalition for questioning the Act, CM Yogi stated that a reform targeted at the benefit of workers, farmers, and villages should have been embraced. Instead, they’re seeking to justify an old, rotten system.
Chief Minister Yogi stated: “The essence of the VB-G Ram G Act, 2025 lies in transparency, an enhanced employment guarantee, and the creation of durable assets in rural areas.”
He stated that the Act will serve as a solid foundation for the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047. He emphasized that national success is dependent on state development, which is dependent on village prosperity, and that boosting the rural economy will make farmers self-sufficient while also ensuring workers’ dignity, security, and social protection.
The Chief Minister stated that “the new act was essential due to serious shortcomings in MGNREGA.” He cited the scheme’s establishment of incomplete and temporary assets, as well as widespread complaints of false employment cards, bogus attendance, and payment deductions throughout districts.
He recalled how the CBI had to investigate a large MGNREGA scam during the Samajwadi Party’s term. Weak social audits, poor grievance redressal systems, administrative lapses, and wage payment delays persisted, leaving farmers with insufficient labor during peak seasons and laborers without guaranteed, timely employment or salaries.
CM Yogi highlighted that the new Act extends the employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days. Payments will be made weekly, with provisions for compensation and additional interest in the event of delays. For the first time, the unemployment payment has been declared a legal right if work is not given on time. To alleviate labor shortages during the sowing and harvesting seasons, states have been given the authority to temporarily prohibit work for up to 60 days.
The Act empowers panchayats to build permanent and productive assets. Gram panchayats will identify projects in four major categories: water conservation, rainfall harvesting, check dams, rural roads and drainage, livelihood-related infrastructure, playgrounds, open gyms, markets, and mandis. Works on disaster management and flood control will also be included.
CM Yogi stated, “Technology has been legalized under the Act, with provisions for biometric attendance, geo-tagging, satellite imagery, real-time monitoring via mobile applications, and direct benefit transfer (DBT).” This would fully prevent payments to bogus beneficiaries and put an end to inefficient activities like repetitive pit digging and refilling.
The Chief Minister went on to say, “The Act requires social audits within six months, digital and time-bound grievance redressal, the appointment of a district-level ombudsman, and audits based on prescribed standards.” The funding model will be a 60:40 Centre-State cooperation, with the plan remaining totally demand-driven.”
Compared to MGNREGA, the new structure could provide states with almost ₹17,000 crore in additional resources. States with a larger workforce will receive proportionately higher job chances.