Patna: Bihar’s rural housing programme has received a major boost after the Union Rural Development Ministry accepted the state government’s request to provide 90 days of wages under VB-G RAM G for construction of houses under the state-sponsored Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).
Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar said the approval will make it easier for poor rural families to complete their permanent homes. The decision links wage support under the rural employment programme with the state’s rural housing initiative.
Centre Accepts Bihar’s Request
The Bihar government had requested the Centre to allow 90 days of wage employment under VB-G RAM G for beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).
The Rural Development Ministry has now accepted the request. Welcoming the decision, Shravan Kumar thanked the Union government and Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for considering Bihar’s demand.
The minister also expressed hope that Bihar would continue to receive the Centre’s support for rural development initiatives.
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₹300 Daily Wage Under VB-G RAM G in Bihar
The approval comes after the Centre introduced revised wage rates under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) from July 1, 2026.
Under the revised wage structure, Bihar’s notified wage rate under VB-G RAM G is ₹300 per day.
At this rate, 90 days of wage support would amount to ₹27,000 per household, subject to the applicable implementation provisions.
The arrangement can provide an additional source of financial support for families constructing houses under the state-sponsored rural housing programme.
How the Decision Can Help Rural Families
For low-income rural households, completing a permanent house can involve significant expenditure on labour and construction.
The approved wage convergence can help beneficiaries meet part of the labour cost while completing their houses. It is expected to reduce the financial pressure on eligible families and support faster completion of rural homes.
The move also reflects the broader approach of linking rural employment with the creation of durable assets and development-related works.
The VB-G RAM G Act provides a statutory framework for 125 days of guaranteed wage employment for eligible rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
Bihar Had Earlier Sought Higher Wages
The Bihar government had also raised the issue of wage rates under the new rural employment framework.
According to the state government, its earlier request was followed by an increase in the wage rate for workers in Bihar to ₹300 per day. The revised national wage notification confirms ₹300 as Bihar’s rate under VB-G RAM G for 2026-27.
The latest approval extends the state’s effort to use the rural employment framework alongside housing-related development.
Push for Bihar’s Rural Housing Goals
The Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) is aimed at helping eligible rural families secure permanent houses. The availability of wage support can be particularly relevant for families that face difficulties in arranging labour costs during construction.
For beneficiaries, the 90-day provision could mean greater financial assistance during the house-building process. It also gives the state government another mechanism to support the completion of rural housing projects.
Shravan Kumar said the decision would help poor people realise their dream of owning a permanent house and contribute to improving living conditions in rural Bihar.
Wider Rural Development Impact
The decision comes at a time when the Centre’s VB-G RAM G framework is focused not only on wage employment but also on creating durable rural assets, strengthening livelihoods and improving rural infrastructure.
For Bihar, using wage support for rural housing can bring together two development priorities—employment for rural workers and completion of permanent homes for economically weaker families.
The state government has described the approval as an important step towards implementing the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) more effectively. For rural households, the key benefit will be additional wage support that can help them move closer to completing their permanent homes.
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