New Delhi: The Ministry of Rural Development has notified 375 permissible works under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025], expanding the scope of rural works by 41% compared with the 266 works under the previous framework.
The new Schedule groups the works into four broad areas — Water Security, Core Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood-related Infrastructure, and Special Works for Extreme Weather Events and Disaster Preparedness.
The framework seeks to link wage employment with the creation of durable rural assets and development outcomes. Works will be identified through decentralised planning under Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and approved by the Gram Sabha.
Water Security Gets 128 Works
Water Security has the largest share, with 128 permissible works. These include check dams, gully plugs, recharge shafts, injection wells, underground dykes and the rejuvenation of rivers, rivulets and nallahs.
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The Schedule also covers reclamation of waterlogged land, renovation of field water-distribution channels, drip irrigation, sprinkler systems and rooftop rainwater harvesting.
It includes newer water-conservation measures such as ice stupas and artificial glaciers.
111 Works for Rural Infrastructure
The Core Rural Infrastructure category includes 111 works aimed at strengthening village-level civic and community facilities.
These include solar street lighting, waste-to-wealth recycling plants, greywater treatment units, waste-segregation sheds, rural libraries, veterinary and rural health centres, Common Service Centres and multipurpose youth centres.
The Schedule also permits works involving additional classrooms and laboratories in government schools, rural parks and footpaths, besides repair and maintenance of Jal Jeevan Mission water-supply infrastructure.
Livelihood Infrastructure Gets Larger Role
The Livelihood-related Infrastructure pillar contains 98 works, covering infrastructure linked to agriculture, processing, value addition and rural enterprises.
The list includes agro-processing and value-addition facilities, cleaning and grading units, packaging infrastructure, cold storage, mini flour mills, market yards, dairy infrastructure, mushroom cultivation sheds, sericulture sheds, poly-houses and aquaculture structures.
Infrastructure for Self-Help Groups and their federations is also included, along with SHG worksheds, SHE Marts and federation buildings and training-cum-skill development centres.
According to the Ministry, livelihood-related works account for 26% of the new Schedule, compared with 1.1% under the previous framework.
38 Works for Disaster Preparedness
For the first time, the rural works framework has a dedicated category for extreme weather events and disaster preparedness, comprising 38 works.
These include flood-relief shelters, retaining walls, embankment strengthening, flood-protection works and restoration of rural roads and community assets after disasters.
The Schedule also includes forest-fire management measures such as fire lines and fuel-buffer zones, with the category covering risks including floods, cyclones, storms, droughts, landslides and forest fires.
Focus on Farmers, Vulnerable Households and Youth
The Schedule includes 181 agriculture and allied works, including 52 individual-beneficiary works related to water, land, plantations, livestock and other productive assets.
Another 107 works are tagged for Antyodaya and vulnerable households, including 68 individual-beneficiary works. These cover areas such as housing, sanitation, energy, irrigation, plantations and livestock shelters.
The framework also identifies 36 works related to Nari Shakti and 36 related to Yuva Shakti, covering infrastructure for women’s collectives, SHGs, youth centres, skill development and enterprise-linked activities.
Gram Sabha to Drive Local Planning
Under VB–G RAM G, works will originate through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans based on local requirements and will require Gram Sabha approval.
The Ministry said the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack will digitally track works and facilitate convergence between Central, State and local schemes while helping avoid duplication.
The expanded framework brings employment generation together with rural water security, infrastructure, livelihoods, climate resilience and disaster preparedness as part of the government’s stated objective of contributing to the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
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