Ministry of Rural Development
Sikkim to Receive Rs 97.57 Crore under Centre’s New ‘VB-GRAM-G’ Rural Development Scheme: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
प्रविष्टि तिथि:
09 JUN 2026 6:55PM by PIB Gangtok
In a historic initiative for rural development, the Union Government has launched the ‘VB-GRAM-G’ scheme with a total outlay of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore to strengthen rural employment and village infrastructure. Sikkim has been allocated Rs 97.57 crore under the interim release. The new system will be implemented from July 1, 2026.
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a high-level meeting with Rural Development Ministers of States and Union Territories held via video conferencing on June 9, 2026. Union Minister of State Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani also attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Shri Chouhan said the initiative aims to give new momentum to rural employment, worker protection and overall village development under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He stressed that the transition to the new system from July 1 must be smooth, worker-centric and without any disruption. “Not a single labourer should remain without work for even one day,” the Union Minister said, adding that employment, timely wage payment and statutory rights must be guaranteed.
The Centre has already released Rs 30,000 crore under MGNREGA. An additional interim allocation of Rs 95,692 crore has been released to States and UTs, taking the total to over Rs 1.25 lakh crore under ‘VB-GRAM-G’. This fund will reach nearly 2.80 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country, enabling lakhs of rupees in funds for each Panchayat for identified development works.
For Sikkim, the interim allocation under ‘VB-GRAM-G’ is Rs 97.57 crore. The Union Minister urged the States to ensure prior approval of adequate works so that implementation can begin in full swing from July 1. He emphasized that works must be selected through Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas, ensuring job creation along with creation of durable rural assets.
Shri Chouhan noted that several States have made significant progress in DBT, SMS-based information systems, e-KYC and face authentication, which will support successful implementation of ‘VB-GRAM-G’. He directed States to issue notifications promptly, complete 100 percent e-KYC, notify the peak agricultural season, and organize capacity building and awareness programmes at district and block levels.
A National Rural Development Conference on ‘VB-GRAM-G’ will be held at Pusa Institute, New Delhi on June 28-29, 2026, to discuss its effective implementation.
The Union Minister expressed confidence that with active cooperation from all States, ‘VB-GRAM-G’ will play a key role in transforming rural India and providing sustainable employment and better livelihoods to crores of workers, including those in Sikkim.
Reference:
*******
SK
(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2270856)
आगंतुक पटल : 108