In a major step towards ensuring seamless implementation of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025, the Ministry of Rural Development shall be deploying more than 100 Area Officers across the country to support States and Union Territories ahead of the Act coming into force on 1 July 2026.

The Area Officers will serve as facilitators and resource persons during the rollout phase, working closely with State Governments and district administrations to support implementation, strengthen local capacities, facilitate knowledge sharing, help address operational challenges and promote the adoption of good practices.

To oriernt the officers for this role, the Department of Rural Development organised a dedicated orientation programme covering the key features of the Act, implementation framework, institutional arrangements, technology-enabled governance systems and support mechanisms available to States and districts. The programme was chaired by Secretary, Rural Development, Shri Rohit Kansal. Joint Secretary Ms. Rohini R. Bhajibhakare conducted the orientation programme.

During their visits, Area Officers will interact with State Governments, district administrations and field-level functionaries to understand implementation requirements, facilitate exchange of experiences and good practices, support capacity-building efforts and assist in resolving operational issues. Their engagement will help strengthen coordination among various stakeholders and support effective implementation during the transition to the new framework. The initiative is designed to provide institutional handholding and facilitate smooth operationalisation of the Act across the country.

The Area Officer initiative is expected to play an important role in supporting States and UTs during the rollout phase by facilitating coordination, sharing implementation experiences and providing continuous institutional support, thereby helping ensure a smooth and effective transition to the VB–G RAM G framework.

The VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 seeks to transform rural employment into a driver of sustainable and inclusive rural development by integrating guaranteed wage employment with livelihood promotion, climate resilience, rural infrastructure creation and technology-enabled governance. Through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs), GIS-based planning and convergence across schemes, the Act advances the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The Ministry has simultaneously undertaken extensive preparatory measures to ensure readiness across the country. These include approval of an interim allocation of ₹95,692 crore for FY 2026–27, onboarding of all States and UTs onto the DBT-SPARSH platform, completion of e-KYC for nearly 93 per cent of active workers, rollout of the Face Authentication-based Attendance System nationwide, development of dedicated digital platforms and large-scale capacity-building initiatives.

Reflecting the progress achieved so far, 27 States and Union Territories have already made budgetary provisions for implementation of the Act, while six States/UTs have notified their State Schemes under the VB–G RAM G framework. The remaining States and UTs are in advanced stages of finalising their schemes.

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RC/PU