LG notifies new rural employment scheme, replaces MGNREGA from July 1
SRINAGAR (KIMS) — Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday notified the Jammu Kashmir Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM-G] Scheme, 2026, which will come into force across all notified rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir from July 1, 2026.
According to a post shared by the Lieutenant Governor on X, the scheme has been notified under Section 3(1) read with Section 8 of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 and will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The new scheme guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to every eligible rural household willing to undertake unskilled manual work, an increase from the previous 100-day guarantee.
Under the scheme, employment must be provided within 15 days of demand, failing which applicants will be entitled to unemployment allowance. Wage payments will be made weekly or within a fortnight, with compensation for delays, the post said.
To safeguard agricultural productivity, the scheme introduces a mandatory 60-day pause in public works during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to ensure adequate labour availability for farming activities.
The scheme focuses on four priority sectors — water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement, and climate and disaster resilience. Planning will be carried out through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) using GIS-based tools and PM Gati Shakti layers to ensure convergence and avoid duplication of works.
The scheme also provides special support to vulnerable sections, including single women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), released bonded labourers and transgender persons through dedicated Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards.
The government has also mandated that at least one-third of the beneficiaries under the scheme shall be women.
According to the post, the scheme aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through enhanced employment opportunities, technology-enabled governance and creation of resilient rural infrastructure in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. — (KIMS)
