Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday met Rozgar Sahayaks from various states in Bhopal, where they expressed gratitude for the government’s decision to increase administrative expenditure from 6 per cent to 9 per cent. The move, the Minister said, addresses long-standing concerns over delays in salary payments to employment assistants, panchayat secretaries and technical staff.
Shri Chouhan said the increase—amounting to a one-and-a-half times rise in administrative expenditure—would have a direct impact on staff welfare. Of the total proposed budget of ₹1,51,282 crore, more than ₹13,000 crore will now be allocated towards salaries and essential administrative requirements. He assured Rozgar Sahayaks that this allocation would be sufficient to ensure timely payments and that strict monitoring mechanisms would be put in place to prevent wasteful expenditure.
The Minister said that administrative spending would be carefully regulated, with no scope for unnecessary expenses such as excessive spending on vehicles or other non-essential heads. He noted that Rozgar Sahayaks had repeatedly raised issues related to delayed or withheld salaries, following which provisions were incorporated into the rules mandating that salaries must be paid first, before any other administrative expenses. Necessary directions, he said, would be issued in coordination with state governments to ensure compliance.
Stronger Employment Guarantees Under New Framework
Shri Chouhan highlighted that unlike earlier provisions under MGNREGA, there is now a legal guarantee of 125 days of employment, up from 100 days. Additionally, keeping agricultural peak seasons in mind, state governments have been empowered to notify deployment of workers in agricultural activities for up to 60 days during sowing and harvesting periods, ensuring farmers do not face labour shortages.
He said efforts have been made to make the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G scheme more practical and effective by removing earlier shortcomings. Increasing administrative expenditure, he added, is a concrete step towards easing the challenges faced by grassroots-level workers. The Minister urged Rozgar Sahayaks to communicate these changes effectively at the field level and assured them that further improvements would be undertaken after consultations with state governments, particularly to strengthen support for staff working at the panchayat level.
Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: From Bill to Act
Describing Viksit Bharat–G RAM G as a historic initiative, Shri Chouhan said the scheme has now moved beyond a bill and become an Act following the President’s assent. He cautioned against misinformation being spread about the programme and emphasised the need to ensure that accurate information reaches every village.
Under the Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, he said, the enhancement from 100 to 125 days of guaranteed employment represents not just an increase in workdays but a strengthening of employment security. He noted that provisions for unemployment allowance have been made more robust, and strict timelines have been laid down for wage payments. If wages are not paid within 15 days, workers will be entitled to additional compensation. Delays stretching into months, he said, will no longer be acceptable. Wage rates will continue at current levels and will be revised upwards annually.
Four Categories of Works Identified
The Minister outlined that four broad categories of works will be undertaken under the scheme. These include water conservation projects such as ponds and check dams; basic village infrastructure including schools, hospitals, anganwadi centres, roads and drainage systems; livelihood-oriented works aimed at expanding employment opportunities, including infrastructure for women’s self-help groups and farmer producer organisations; and disaster mitigation works such as retaining walls, drainage systems and river-linked structures.
Reiterating Narendra Modi’s vision, Shri Chouhan said development initiatives must be clearly visible on the ground. Under the Viksit Gram Panchayat Yojana, he added, development plans will be prepared through collective deliberation, allowing villages themselves to determine their development priorities.