Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has notified the Jammu & Kashmir Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM-G) Scheme, 2026, which will come into effect across all notified rural areas of the Union Territory from July 1, 2026.
The new scheme replaces MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to every eligible rural household willing to undertake unskilled manual work, an increase from the earlier 100-day guarantee. If employment is not provided within 15 days of demand, beneficiaries will be entitled to an unemployment allowance.
The scheme also ensures weekly or fortnightly wage payments, with compensation for delays. To support agriculture, public works will remain suspended for 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to ensure adequate labour availability for farming.
VB-G RAM-G focuses on four key sectors—Water Security, Core Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood Enhancement, and Climate & Disaster Resilience. Planning will be carried out through GIS-based Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans to improve efficiency and avoid duplication of projects.
Special provisions have been made for vulnerable groups, including single women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), released bonded labourers and transgender persons. The scheme also mandates that at least one-third of beneficiaries must be women.
To improve transparency, the programme will use biometric and face-authenticated attendance, GPS-enabled monitoring, AI-based analytics, geofencing, digital muster rolls and public disclosure of work details. Contractors and labour-displacing machinery will not be allowed to ensure maximum employment generation.
The centrally sponsored scheme will follow a 90:10 funding pattern between the Government of India and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, with strengthened monitoring, social audits and grievance redress mechanisms to ensure accountability.
