Patna: Bihar has started preparing a new development blueprint for gram panchayats under the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) of the VB-G RAM G scheme. A state-level training programme was organised at Bapu Sabhagar to train officials on planning and implementing integrated rural development works.
Officials from all districts, including district programme officers, engineers and programme officers, attended the training.
From Employment to Long-Term Village Development
The training focused on moving beyond individual schemes and creating integrated development plans for entire gram panchayats.
Anjani Kumar, Chief Executive Officer-cum-Commissioner of the VB-G RAM G scheme, said officials would first survey completed and incomplete works in each panchayat. A gap assessment would then help identify pending requirements and prepare new plans according to priority.
The trained officials will subsequently conduct similar training at block, district and subdivision levels.
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375 Types of Works Under Four Categories
According to officials, development works under the scheme have been divided into four broad categories, covering a total of 375 types of works.
The planning will take into account the specific needs and aspirations of individual gram panchayats. Suggestions from mukhiyas and other local stakeholders will also be considered while preparing plans.
The approach is aimed at bringing different rural development activities together instead of planning them separately.
Plans to Be Integrated Across Departments
Saroj Kumar, Director of IT and E-Governance at the Bihar Rural Development Society, explained the process of selecting schemes, implementing them and uploading development-related details on the online portal.
Under the new planning approach, panchayat-level plans will also consider schemes being implemented by other departments.
Plans approved by gram panchayats will move to the block level and then to the district level for final approval.
Focus on Water, Livelihoods and Climate Resilience
The VB-G RAM G scheme came into effect on July 1, 2026, according to officials at the training programme.
State Programme Officer Anish Ranjan Rao said the scheme seeks to combine employment generation with the creation of lasting rural infrastructure.
The planned works will include areas such as:
- Water security
- Core rural infrastructure
- Livelihood development
- Climate change
- Disaster management
The emphasis is therefore on creating assets and infrastructure that can support villages over the long term while also providing employment opportunities.
Technology to Track Rural Development
The programme will use technology for planning, monitoring and transparency.
Officials said Secure 2.0 software will be used for preparing estimates, while the Bhu-Gram portal will support geo-tagging of works.
This technology-based approach is expected to make it easier to record development works and monitor their implementation at the panchayat level.
The state-level training is the first step towards taking the planning process to blocks and districts. By integrating local needs with schemes across departments, Bihar aims to create more coordinated development plans for its gram panchayats.
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