Asem Bhakta
Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: The State Monitoring Cell of Manipur’s Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department organised a one-day Jan-Samvaad media dialogue at Classic Hotel, North AOC, to raise awareness of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G-RAM-G). The IEC programme brought together officials and media representatives to discuss the Act’s provisions and its push for public outreach.
VB-G-RAM-G, enacted in 2025, reforms MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household while prioritising durable assets under four verticals: water security (building on Mission Amrit Sarovar’s revival of 68,000+ water bodies), core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and special works for extreme weather. Created assets will feed into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack for unified tracking.
Addressing the session, Commissioner Shri Sumant Singh noted Manipur received its highest MGNREGA allocation—60 days for 2025-26—and highlighted that IEC efforts have been visible in rural areas but need media support to reach urban audiences. A video and presentation detailed the scheme’s mandate.
Attendees included Jt. Secretary Shri Lanjoy Thoudam, Director Shri Ksh. Umananda, Executive Engineer L. Ramesh Singh, Legal Officer Smt. Sanatombi Koijam, department officials, and media personnel from print and electronic outlets.
