Background
VB-G RAM G is the new rural employment programme replacing the earlier MGNREGS framework.
It seeks to provide rural households with a statutory employment guarantee while linking employment creation more closely with local livelihood and agricultural requirements.
A significant feature is the ability of States to identify peak agricultural periods during which the employment programme can be adjusted so that it complements rather than competes with farm labour demand.
States can also issue area-specific notifications for districts, blocks or Gram Panchayats according to agro-climatic conditions and cropping patterns.
Workers registered under MGNREGS have been migrated to VB-G RAM G, while existing job cards continue to facilitate access to employment.
The government has clarified that pending e-KYC does not prevent workers from demanding or receiving employment.
Key Features
Agriculture-sensitive employment planning
Employment scheduling can be aligned with local agricultural calendars.
60-day agricultural pause
States can notify peak agricultural periods when rural labour demand is high.
Local flexibility
Peak periods may be notified at the level of States, districts, blocks or Gram Panchayats.
Continuity of beneficiaries
Existing MGNREGS workers have been migrated to the new system.
e-KYC flexibility
Employment cannot be denied merely because a worker's e-KYC is pending.
Large-scale e-KYC completion
e-KYC has been completed for 15.89 crore workers.
Around 95% of active workers—10.27 crore out of 10.84 crore—have completed e-KYC.
Challenge
Lower person-days: July–August 2026 recorded 32.13% fewer person-days than the corresponding period in 2025.
Transition effects: The shift from MGNREGS to a new institutional framework may temporarily affect implementation.
Agricultural-season variation: Employment demand naturally fluctuates with sowing, harvesting and other agricultural activities.
Inter-State comparability: Comparisons with MGNREGS figures need caution because West Bengal generated no person-days under MGNREGS in 2025 following the freezing of Union financial disbursements.
Implementation capacity: Effective decentralised planning requires States and local bodies to correctly identify agricultural calendars and local employment needs.
Digital exclusion risks: Although pending e-KYC is not supposed to prevent employment, continued emphasis on digital authentication can create implementation challenges for vulnerable workers if safeguards are weak.
Way Forward
Improve data-based planning: Use district- and Gram Panchayat-level agricultural calendars to synchronise employment opportunities with periods of low farm labour demand.
Strengthen local institutions: Give Gram Panchayats adequate technical and administrative capacity for planning and implementing works.
Ensure timely wage payments: Employment guarantees must translate into predictable and timely wage payments.
Monitor vulnerable households: Special attention should be given to landless labourers, women workers and households dependent heavily on public employment.
Maintain transparency: Regular publication of person-days, wage payments, employment demand and pending payments can strengthen accountability.
Evaluate before concluding: Performance should be assessed over multiple agricultural cycles rather than through only the first two months of implementation.
Conclusion
The early employment numbers for VB-G RAM G indicate a drop relative to the MGNREGS period, but two months are not enough to gauge the performance of this new scheme in the long run. The unique feature of the scheme is that it tries to combine the provision of employment generation with the local farming schedule of the region. The crucial question that will determine the success of the scheme will be whether this flexibility can provide security for rural livelihoods without compromising access to employment guarantees.
