Telangana Launches VB-G RAM G, Strengthens Rural Employment Drive
HYDERABAD: A day after the State Cabinet approved the Centre’s Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission-Grameen (VB-G RAM G), the Telangana government on Friday issued a gazette notification implementing the scheme with effect from July 1.
The state also committed ₹2,550.21 crore as its mandatory 40% share of the programme. The Centre has allocated ₹3,825.31 crore for Telangana during the 2026-27 financial year.
Telangana gets lowest wage among southern states
The Centre has fixed an interim base wage of ₹300 per day under the new law. Telangana workers will receive ₹308 per day, the lowest wage among the southern states.
Workers in Andhra Pradesh will receive ₹312, Karnataka ₹382, Kerala ₹401, and Tamil Nadu ₹340 per day.
The state completed the required financial formalities before rolling out the scheme. It opened a dedicated bank account for the programme and another Reserve Bank of India account for fund transfers.
Telangana also informed the Centre that 94.58% of eligible workers had completed e-KYC verification. The government is introducing a facial recognition system to authenticate workers and speed up wage payments.
VB-G RAM G replaces MGNREGS
The Centre has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with the new VB-G RAM G programme after the previous scheme ended last month.
The new programme increases the employment guarantee from 100 days to 120 days. However, it also mandates a two-month suspension of works during the agricultural season.
Telangana has opposed this provision. The state says the suspension will deprive rural workers of employment during a crucial period.
The government will continue works sanctioned under MGNREGS by using unspent person-days from the previous financial year. These works include women self-help group buildings, gram panchayat offices, anganwadi centres, school rooms and compound walls.
Telangana completed nearly eight crore of the 8.5 crore person-days allocated during the last financial year.
State prepares Supreme Court challenge
The Congress government is preparing to move the Supreme Court next week. It argues that several provisions of the VB-G RAM G Act violate the federal structure and reduce the constitutional powers of states.
The proposed petition will cite Articles 258(3), 246, 162, 266(3), 280, 40 and 21 of the Constitution.
Telangana objects to key provisions
The state has consistently opposed two major provisions of the new programme.
Under MGNREGS, states could identify and propose works based on local needs. Under the new scheme, the Centre will decide the priority of works.
Telangana has also objected to the mandatory two-month halt during the agricultural season. The government says it will hurt rural workers and delay development projects.
Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) recently met Union government officials in New Delhi. She sought a postponement of the scheme and relaxation of the disputed provisions. However, the Centre rejected the request.
Despite its objections, the State Cabinet has decided to implement the scheme from July 1 while pursuing legal remedies against the provisions it considers unconstitutional.
