Says scheme will focus on resolving water scarcity
Panaji: Goa is fully prepared to roll out the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, in the state to replace the former MGNREGA scheme, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday stating that the initiative will boost Goa’s rural economy.
Addressing media in Panaji, Sawant said awareness about the VB-G RAM G scheme is being conducted in all the 191 village panchayats in the state. He said the employment scheme will focus on resolving water scarcity and creating rural infrastructure, livelihood assets and climate resilience.
Sawant said the new Act has brought about significant changes, aiming to align rural employment with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said the guaranteed wage employment days have been increased from 100 to 125 days per rural household per financial year.
“The first preferential groups under the new scheme will be single women, Divyangs (persons with disabilities), vulnerable tribal groups and individuals between 60 and 75 years of age. Existing job cards will be revised and fresh rural employment cards will be issued,” he said.
Funding model under the new scheme has changed from 100% central funds for wages to a 60:40 cost-sharing formula between the Centre and states for most states, including Goa.
Sawant said the new Act allows the state governments to notify a period of up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons when no public works will be undertaken to ensure availability of labour for agriculture.
Under the new Act, states are liable to pay a mandatory unemployment allowance to workers if work is not provided within 15 days of demand.
Planning will be done through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans that are integrated into a national infrastructure stack, Sawant said.
He said the new framework mandates the use of technology for monitoring, including biometric authentication, GPS tracking of worksites and mandatory social audits twice a year. Replying to a question on the role of
Zilla Panchayats in the new scheme, the Chief Minister said the government has already provided training for district-level planning under Zilla Panchayats. He said the role of Zilla Panchayats will be important in implementation of the scheme.
Sawant said over 800 works were taken up under the old scheme and more than 50% of these projects have been complete.
Minister for Water Resources Department Subhash Shirodkar and Minister for Power Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar were present on the occasion.
Sawant assures stop work order for Carambolim project
Panaji: Following a protest outside the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department led by Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) MLA Viresh Borkar against a proposed mega project in Carambolim, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Monday late evening said that a notice will be issued while also assuring a stop work order for the project.
Sawant said, “I have spoken to the Minister for Town and Country Planning and conveyed to MLA Viresh Borkar that a notice will be issued to the project at Carambolim.”
At the next TCP Board meeting scheduled to be held in the next three days, a stop work order will be issued for the Carambolim project, CM said.
