By Firstdespatch Desk Feb 11, 2026
Agartala, Feb 11 (FD) Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday launched the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) — VB-GRAMG — in Tripura, describing it as a transformative step towards job creation and rural infrastructure growth, while accusing the Congress and CPI(M) of spreading a “negative campaign” against the initiative.
Addressing a State-Level Programme at Swami Vivekananda Maidan to commemorate the launch of VB-GRAMG and inaugurate multiple projects of the Rural Development Department, Chouhan said the scheme reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a developed India through empowered villages.
“G-RAM-G is aimed at generating employment and accelerating rural infrastructure development. However, the opposition Congress and the communists are misleading rural people with a negative campaign,” he alleged.
Highlighting the financial commitment behind the programme, Chouhan said the Union Budget has earmarked Rs 95,600 crore for the scheme. With additional contributions from state governments, the total outlay is expected to reach Rs 1,51,282 crore. Furthermore, he said the Finance Commission will directly allocate Rs 55,000 crore to gram panchayats.
“In total, more than Rs 2 lakh crore will be invested in rural development in the coming fiscal year. Each gram panchayat is expected to receive between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 1.75 crore annually for development activities,” he said.
The Union minister claimed that nearly Rs 10 lakh crore would be spent on rural development over the next five years, promising a “revolution of development” in villages if funds are utilised effectively. Accusing the previous Left Front government in Tripura of neglecting rural areas, Chouhan said the Modi government is committed to strengthening villages, reiterating that “real India lives in villages.”
He added that VB-GRAMG would not only create employment opportunities for the rural poor but also lead to the creation of durable community assets.
Praising Tripura’s success in empowering women through self-help groups, Chouhan noted that the state has already produced 1.08 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’, showcasing the impact of grassroots economic initiatives.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also addressed the gathering, said the VB-GRAMG Act 2025 was introduced to strengthen rural development and curb corruption. “If villages do not develop, the state and the nation cannot progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayaas’ guides this mission,” he said.
Dr. Saha noted that the new Act incorporates digital tracking to prevent middlemen and ensure transparency. He added that the guaranteed employment period has been increased from 100 to 125 days, marking a significant shift in India’s rural employment framework. FD JK