The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati, in association with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), North Eastern Regional Centre, organised a regional media conference Vartalap today on the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G) Act, 2025 and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat at Guwahati today.

Dr. B Kalyan Chakravarthy, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Panchayat and Rural Development, Government of Assam graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering Shri Chakravarthy said that increasing the number of employment days under the VB G RAM G is  crucial for providing sustainable income support to rural households. He highlighted digital payment of wages as a key feature of the VB G RAM G, ensuring timely remuneration and eliminating delays faced by workers. Shri Chakravarthy lauded the initiatives of PIB Guwahati for organising a media workshop focused on the VB G RAM G, underscoring its importance in strengthening rural livelihoods.

Dr. R. Murugesan, Director, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), elaborated on the salient features of the VB G RAM G Act, highlighting its role in strengthening livelihood security in rural areas. He explained that the Act guarantees a legal right to a minimum of 125 days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year, thereby providing income stability and reducing rural distress.

Dr. Murugesan further underlined the Act’s strong emphasis on transparency and accountability, noting that advanced digital monitoring mechanisms have been incorporated to curb irregularities in implementation.

In his opening remarks, Shri Kripa Shankar Yadav, Additional Director General, North East Zone, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, stated that the media workshop was organised to deliberate on recent changes made in MGNREGA and related initiatives. He said that the Government of India is working towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and urged media professionals to actively participate in discussions on the VB G RAM G Act and disseminate accurate information to the masses.

The workshop also featured  deliberations on Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat. Speaking on the theme of Child Marriage–Free India and Assam, Shri Miguel Das Queah, Child Rights Practitioner and Activist, highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by the Government of India to safeguard child rights. He noted that despite these efforts, child marriage continues to be prevalent across the country, adversely impacting the education and health of children. Referring to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Shri Queah pointed out gaps in effective implementation and stated that to address this challenge, the Government launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign in 2024. The campaign aims to achieve at least a 10 per cent reduction in child marriage cases by 2026, with the long-term goal of eliminating the practice entirely by 2030. He stressed that sustained and inclusive awareness campaigns, beginning at the panchayat level and extending to civil society organisations, are essential for community participation and collective action.

Addressing the legal provisions for the safety of women and children, Ms. Seema Bhuyan, Senior Advocate, Gauhati High Court, informed that in recent past around 2,000 individuals have been arrested in child marriage–related cases in Assam, reflecting the state government’s strict and proactive approach. She also elaborated on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, emphasising its significance in safeguarding children’s rights and dignity. Ms. Bhuyan urged media professionals to exercise utmost sensitivity while reporting cases involving children and stressed that the identity of the child must be strictly protected in accordance with legal and ethical norms.

Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Smt. Pavni Gupta, Joint Director, PIB Guwahati, stated that Vartalap is organised with the objective of enabling media professionals to gain a deeper understanding of the schemes and policies of the Government of India. She informed that during the current year, PIB Guwahati has connected with nearly 190 journalists from across Assam through a series of media workshops.

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