Patna: Rural development department (RDD) minister Shrawan Kumar said here on Monday that the govt has committed itself to implementing the Centre’s Viksit Bharat (VB)-G-RAM-G programme with all sincerity, as Bihar is the first among the major states that gave cabinet approval to it. The VB-G-RAM-G is the new avatar of the earlier MNREGA with some key modifications.He made the observation at the orientation programme organised for the govt officials on the VB-G-RAM-G here in which deputy development commissioners (DDCs), national employment programme (NEP) directors and district programme officers of MGNREGA participated. The senior participants included RDD principal secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal and director in the Union rural development ministry Sanjay Kumar.While the state RDD is designated for implementing the VB-G-RAM-G programme, the minister highlighted the achievements made by the department, noting that Bihar’s check-dam model has been adopted nationally for water conservation, and the state received national award for the construction of wells and ponds. Further, 20 crore saplings had been planted, as a result of which the state’s green cover has increased from 9% to 16% and the target is to achieve the national average of 33%. He also pointed to the construction of sports ground under MGNREGA.The minister demanded fixation of the nationally uniform wage rate given to registered workers for 125 days of work per year under VB-G-RAM-G. Besides, he said the Centre should make early release of the pending fund related to MGNREGA.Speaking on the occasion, central rural development director Sanjay Kumar said all work taken up under VB-G-RAM-G should be done in a systematic manner. He said the Centre has made interim budgetary allotment of Rs6,715 crore for Bihar in this regard, and the sum is for utilisation in the remaining nine months of the current financial year.Elaborating on the VB-G-RAM-G programme, state RDD principal secretary said the works connected with rural infrastructure development, Jeevika (livelihood programme), water management and disaster management have also been included in it. The state Jeevika CEO Himanshu Sharma also spoke on this occasion.
