Manipur today joined the nationwide rollout of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G], replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with the State Government announcing an increase in guaranteed wage employment from 100 to 125 days and a hike in daily wages to Rs.300.
The state-level launch was held at Salam Tharojam Eco Tourism Park in Imphal West, where Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said the new scheme would strengthen rural livelihoods while contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He said eligible job card holders would now be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed employment annually, up from the earlier 100 days, while daily wages have been increased from Rs. 284 to Rs. 300.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, who joined the programme through video conferencing, said sustainable rural development begins at the village level and called for convergence of the scheme with agriculture, horticulture, watershed development, soil conservation, Jal Jeevan Mission and other livelihood initiatives to create durable and climate-resilient community assets.
Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Sumant Singh said the Act, passed by Parliament in December 2025, introduces a decentralised planning mechanism under which every Gram Panchayat will prepare its own development plan. He added that implementation would be integrated with the PM GatiShakti geospatial platform to improve planning, transparency and monitoring.
The programme also witnessed the virtual national launch led by Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries later planted saplings as part of the event.
Simultaneously, district-level launch programmes were organised across the state, including Bishnupur, Senapati, Tengnoupal, Tamenglong and Churachandpur.
In Bishnupur, Deputy Commissioner Pooja Elangbam described the mission as a significant step towards strengthening rural employment while creating durable community assets. She highlighted the scheme’s emphasis on water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement and disaster preparedness, along with technology-driven features such as biometric authentication, geo-tagging, digital monitoring and timely wage payments to ensure transparency.
In Senapati, Additional District Magistrate and Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency, P.P. Ronald, said the mission builds upon the achievements of MGNREGA while introducing reforms aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods. Besides extending employment to 125 days, the scheme incorporates a 60-day break during peak agricultural seasons to support farming activities. He urged Gram Panchayats, village authorities and local communities to actively participate in planning and implementation to ensure effective execution.
The Tengnoupal district administration launched the programme at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, where work orders under the new scheme were distributed to beneficiaries from Tengnoupal and H. Wajang villages. Additional Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Asghar Arzad urged village authorities to prioritise development projects that would accelerate rural growth and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
In Tamenglong, Deputy Commissioner Dr. L. Angshim Dangshawa said the enhanced employment guarantee and revised wage structure would provide significant relief to rural households dependent on wage employment. Following the launch, he inaugurated the construction of a pucca side drainage at Apollo, the first project undertaken in the district under the new scheme.
At Churachandpur, Deputy Commissioner Krishna Kumar described the rollout as a milestone in strengthening rural livelihoods. He said the scheme prioritises four broad sectors—water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihood creation and disaster mitigation—and provides for a cumulative 60-day pause during peak sowing and harvesting seasons without affecting the annual employment entitlement. He added that all projects would be geo-tagged and digitally documented to enhance transparency and accountability.