‘Increased allocation for 125 days to benefit job card holders and unskilled workers’
Shillong, Feb 3: Meghalaya is set to gain from the newly enacted Viksit Bharat‑Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB‑G RAM G) Act, said Community & Rural Development Minister Sosthenes Sohtun on Monday.
Welcoming the transition from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to VB‑G RAM G Act, Sohtun said, “The state government stands to gain from the new Act.”
“The overall calculation shows our state doesn’t lose anything. In fact, it gains,” Sohtun told reporters on Monday.
The state’s contribution to materials has decreased from 25% to 10%, and the increased allocation for 125 days will benefit job card holders and unskilled workers, he said.
The new Act also includes rural schools, potentially increasing the budget allocation from 1200-1500 to 2000.
“This will benefit the people of our state, especially poor families, job card holders, and unskilled labor,” Sohtun added.
Asked, Sohtun emphasised that the government accepts the new act as it benefits the state’s people. “Our government welcomes this act, focusing on the benefits for our people,” he said.
Addressing concerns on misappropriation, Sohtun said, “The new Act promotes transparency, allowing VECs and job card holders to monitor work and benefits.”
He directed officials to streamline processes to prevent fund misuse.
“…as a minister I will direct all the concerned blocks, the BDOs, to streamline all the works in such a way that there is no misappropriation of all the schemes that have been allotted to them.”
On internet connectivity issues for eKYC, Sohtun acknowledged the problem and assured efforts to improve network infrastructure.
“I will address this with the Chief Minister and gather data from VECs to resolve the issue,” he said.
