Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Attends ‘VB-GRAMM’ Workshop; Rural Employment Scheme Holds Transformative Potential, Says Minister Bharat Gogawale

Mumbai, July 2026 : A workshop on the Viksit Bharat – Gramin Rozgar and Livelihood Mission (VB-GRAMM) 2026 was held at the Central Hall of the Maharashtra Legislature on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attending as the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale said the VB-GRAMM initiative has the potential to transform rural India by bringing millions of rural families into the mainstream of development. He highlighted the scheme’s role in creating sustainable livelihoods while strengthening the rural economy.

The inaugural session was attended by Legislative Council Chairman Prof. Ram Shinde, Legislative Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narwekar, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale, MLA and Employment Guarantee Scheme Committee Chairman Sunil Shelke, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Rural Development Rohini Bhajibhakare, and Secretary Appaso Dhulaj, among other dignitaries.

Minister Gogawale said Maharashtra had acted swiftly in implementing the scheme by issuing the required government notification and creating a separate budget head within a record eight days.

He noted that Maharashtra’s Matoshri Panand Roads Scheme, which has been successfully implemented across the state, is now being recognised as a model at the national level. Calling it a matter of pride for Maharashtra, he said the initiative has significantly improved rural connectivity.

To further strengthen financial security for rural households, the minister announced that the guaranteed employment period under the scheme has been increased by an additional 25 days, taking the total from 100 days to 125 days annually.

The expanded programme now covers skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled work, while the number of approved categories of work has increased from 266 to 318, providing greater opportunities for rural employment and infrastructure development.

Gogawale also said that a long-term decision had been taken to provide a 60-day break during the peak agricultural season, allowing workers to participate in farming activities without affecting agricultural productivity. He expressed confidence that the benefits of the scheme would reach every eligible beneficiary across the state.

Addressing the workshop, Rohini Bhajibhakare, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Rural Development, said Maharashtra was the pioneer of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in India and that the VB-GRAMM Act came into force nationwide on July 1, 2026.

She said the legislation had been implemented across the country in record time. Under the funding pattern, the Central Government will contribute 60 per cent of the funds, while state governments will provide the remaining 40 per cent. A state-wise normative allocation has also been determined for the programme.

Bhajibhakare urged every Gram Panchayat to prepare its own “Developed Gram Panchayat Plan” over the next five years to ensure systematic and sustainable rural development.

To improve transparency, she said workers’ attendance under the scheme would now be recorded using a facial recognition system. The technology has been designed to function even in remote areas with limited or no internet connectivity through offline capabilities.

She also emphasised the importance of social audits by Gram Sabhas for all projects undertaken under the scheme to ensure accountability and transparency.

Explaining the scope of the programme, Bhajibhakare said the 318 approved categories of work focus primarily on addressing the essential needs of rural communities. These include 107 water conservation and water management projects, 86 livelihood-related initiatives, 37 disaster management works, and 88 rural infrastructure development projects.

The expanded list also includes approval for 221 new development works and 97 maintenance and repair projects, providing wider opportunities for employment generation and infrastructure improvement.

During the interactive session, Bhajibhakare addressed queries raised by legislators regarding the implementation of the scheme.

The workshop was attended by state ministers, Ministers of State, MLAs, senior government officials, and other stakeholders involved in rural development and employment generation programmes.