Archive · 29 Jul 2026
Bengal lags in rural jobs scheme implementation
The Indian government has a new scheme called VB-G RAM G that promises 125 days of work each year to rural families.
This scheme replaced an older one called MGNREGA.
Since the new scheme started on July 1, many states have created a lot of jobs, but Bengal is doing poorly.
Only 60,000 person-days of work were created in Bengal, which is much less than in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
A group called Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti says the Bengal government is not preparing the necessary budgets, and workers are not getting the jobs they need.
The government says they are busy dealing with corruption and that the previous government did not prepare the budget either.
The High Court has told the government to start the old scheme again from August 1, 2025, but this has been delayed.
Bengal is lagging in implementing the VB-G RAM G scheme, which guarantees 125 days of employment per year to rural households.
From July 1 to July 23, Bengal generated only 60,000 person-days of employment, far behind states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti accuses the Bengal government of not preparing the labour budget, which is necessary for the scheme's implementation.
The rural development ministry suspended MGNREGA in Bengal in March 2022 due to implementation irregularities, and the High Court directed its resumption from August 1, 2025.
The new BJP government in Bengal is focused on controlling corruption and has not yet prepared the labour budget due to the absence of elected panchayat representatives.
- Who
- The rural development ministry and state governments
- What
- Implementation of the VB-G RAM G scheme
- When
- July 1 to July 23
- Where
- Across various states in India, with a focus on Bengal
- Why
- To provide rural households with guaranteed employment
State Government Perspective
Civil Society Perspective
Budget Preparation
State Government Perspective
The state government is working on controlling corruption and has not yet focused on preparing the labour budget due to the absence of elected panchayat representatives.
Civil Society Perspective
The government is not getting its act together, and the delay in preparing the labour budget is causing workers to demand work without any response.
- Scheme Name
- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G)
- Employment Guarantee
- 125 days per year
- Person-Days Generated (July 1-23)
- 5.44 crore
- Top Performing State
- Andhra Pradesh (1.04 crore person-days)
- Bengal's Performance
- 60,000 person-days
- Families Availing Employment in Bengal
- 26,594
- Civil Society Organization
- Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti
- High Court Directive
- Resume MGNREGA implementation from August 1, 2025