Shillong, July 1: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the implementation of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announcing that the Centre has sanctioned ₹1,100 crore for the programme until March 31, 2027.
Speaking on June 30, Sangma said the approved allocation covers the nine-month period from July to March and will be funded in a 90:10 ratio between the Centre and the state government, with the Centre bearing 90 per cent of the expenditure. He, however, clarified that any spending beyond the sanctioned ₹1,100 crore would have to be entirely financed by the state.
The Chief Minister stated that during the first quarter of the current financial year, rural employment works in Meghalaya continued to be carried out under the existing MGNREGA guidelines before the transition to the newly adopted legislation.
According to Sangma, the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 increases the annual guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days. The legislation also broadens the scope of permissible works from approximately 250 under MGNREGA to more than 320 activities.
He said the new framework permits the construction of anganwadi centres and school buildings, works that were not allowed under the previous scheme. In addition, the Act places greater emphasis on rural road development, connectivity, livelihood generation, environmental conservation, water resource management and forest protection.
Sangma said the expanded provisions under the new law would provide Meghalaya with greater flexibility in executing development projects while generating increased employment opportunities for people living in rural areas.
