Maharashtra, January 1:
In a landmark move for rural development, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a special Gram Sabha in Maharashtra today, detailing the transformative provisions of the newly enacted Viksit Bharat: G RAM G Act, 2025.
Speaking to a massive crowd in Loni Budruk—and over 6 million citizens via nationwide digital streaming—the Minister declared that the era of rural workers waiting indefinitely for wages is over.
The new Act, which replaces and expands upon the framework of MGNREGA, officially increases the legal guarantee of employment from 100 to 125 days per household.
“My labourer brothers and sisters, this is not just a scheme; it is a legal shield for your dignity,” the Minister said.
To ensure financial security at the grassroots level, the Minister highlighted several “worker-first” policies:
-
Mandatory Weekly Payments: Wages must now be disbursed within seven days of work completion.
-
Interest on Delays: If payment is delayed beyond 15 days, workers are legally entitled to an additional 0.05% interest on their dues.
-
Administrative Boost: The budget for administrative expenses has been raised from 6% to 9%, ensuring that employment assistants and local staff receive their salaries on time, preventing any pause in scheme management.
In a significant shift toward true decentralization, Shri Chouhan emphasized that the Gram Sabha now holds the final authority over village projects.
“Under the ‘Viksit Bharat: G RAM G Act’, the village will decide what the village needs,” he stated. Whether it is water conservation, climate-resilient infrastructure, or livelihood assets, the decision-making power has been transferred from distant offices directly to the local community.
A Vision for 2047
The event, which saw participation from over 100,000 locations across India, underscores the government’s commitment to “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). By strengthening the rural economy, the Act aims to curb distress migration and build durable assets that will serve as the backbone of rural prosperity.
As the Minister concluded, quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “The path to national prosperity runs along the ridges of our fields.”
