Haryana Launches VB-G RAM G Scheme, Promises ₹409 Daily Wage and 125 Days of Rural Employment

The Haryana government on Thursday launched the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), a rural employment programme aimed at boosting livelihoods, strengthening rural infrastructure and promoting sustainable development. The scheme was launched by Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar at a state-level event in Kurukshetra.

Panwar said the scheme guarantees 125 days of employment annually to every eligible rural household, with a daily wage of ₹409 , which he described as the highest in the country under such an employment programme. Workers will receive employment within 15 days of registration , failing which they will be entitled to an unemployment allowance .

The minister said wage payments, which earlier could take up to 15 days, will now be credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts within seven days . To improve accountability, officials responsible for delays or negligence will face a ₹10,000 penalty , while biometric attendance has been made mandatory at worksites to ensure transparency.

According to Panwar, the Centre has released ₹590.19 crore for the scheme, while the Haryana government has contributed nearly ₹370 crore .

The scheme focuses on creating rural employment while supporting water conservation, natural resource management, climate resilience, agriculture, disaster mitigation, animal husbandry, fisheries, rural markets, storage infrastructure and skill development. A total of 318 categories of works have been approved for implementation across the state.

Panwar said eligible workers must register online for verification before employment is allotted. He also highlighted the government's focus on women's empowerment, noting that nearly three lakh women in Haryana have become "Lakhpati Didis" , with a target of creating five lakh such beneficiaries.