Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 13 : Alleging that the Opposition is manufacturing motivated apprehensions against “G Ram G” Act, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today that a responsible government has a duty to place facts clearly before the public, without political colouring, especially when policies directly impact villages, livelihoods, and long-term national outcomes.
With this objective, the Minister said, he was addressing the media on the Viksit Bharat Energy for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Gramin), popularly referred to as G-RAM-G, highlighting that the initiative is rooted in evidence, experience, and ground realities, rather than assumptions or apprehensions.
Addressing a press briefing, Dr Jitendra Singh said that G-RAM-G has been designed as a digitally governed, expanded and outcome-oriented framework, drawing lessons from earlier public employment programmes. The focus, he said, is on improving transparency, accountability and asset creation while ensuring that employment generation remains meaningful, measurable, and directly beneficial to rural communities. The mission integrates modern technology such as GPS-based monitoring and AI-driven models to ensure real-time oversight of works and fund utilisation.
The Minister explained that one of the core strengths of G-RAM-G lies in its convergent approach, bringing together various public works that were earlier implemented in silos. By aligning planning, execution and outcomes, the mission aims to prevent duplication of works, misuse of funds and short-lived assets, while prioritising long-term needs such as water security, rural infrastructure, and availability of farm labour. Every project, he said, is linked to clearly defined outcomes so that public expenditure results in durable community assets.
Highlighting major structural improvements, Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the guaranteed wage employment days have been enhanced from 100 to 125 days, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening livelihood security. To address long-standing concerns over ghost beneficiaries and fake job cards, the entire system has been digitised with robust checks and balances, ensuring that benefits reach genuine workers and leakages are eliminated.
On financial discipline, the Minister stated that G-RAM-G moves away from an open-ended, demand-driven allocation to a normative, state-wise allocation model based on objective parameters. Funding will follow a 60:40 Centre-State sharing pattern, with special provisions for North-Eastern states, Himalayan states, and Union Territories, as applicable. This structure, he said, not only promotes fiscal responsibility but also enhances state ownership and accountability in implementation.
Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasised the importance of aligning employment works with the local agricultural calendar, so that rural workers can balance farm activities with wage employment without disruption. Seasonal flexibility and the provision to pause works for up to 60 days during exigencies such as natural disasters have been built into the framework, ensuring both sensitivity and resilience. Wage payments under the mission will now be made on a weekly basis, significantly improving income stability for workers.
Reiterating the philosophy behind the mission, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that strengthening villages through honest, transparent, and productive employment is fully aligned with the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of rural empowerment. The mission, he added, focuses on empowering villages through real development and accountable governance, rather than symbolic measures.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
