Union Minister for Rural Development, and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated today in a special Gram Sabha held in Loni Budruk village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Addressing the gathering of sarpanchs and Gram Panchayat members, the Union Minister outlined the key provisions of this new Act.

The entire event was streamed online nationwide. Over 6 million people, including common citizens, Self-Help Group members, farmers, and others, viewed the programme from more than 100,000 locations across the country.

In his address, Union Minister Shri Chouhan explained that the new framework solidifies workers’ employment rights through a guarantee of 125 days of work. Emphasising the scheme’s added benefits, he stated that this legislation strengthens MGNREGA provisions to make the programme more robust, effective, and transparent, while introducing improved monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan further highlighted that the ‘Viksit Bharat - G Ram G Act, 2025’, provides a legal guarantee not for 100, but 125 days of employment, with enhanced provisions for unemployment allowance if work is not provided. He added that under this law, wages must now be disbursed within one week. Moreover, if payments are not made within 15 days, workers will get 0.05 percent extra as interest on their dues. He pointed out that earlier, delays went unpunished, but now those responsible will have to pay the price for their lapses.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan elaborated that under the ‘Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Act, 2025’, decisions on undertaking any village-related work will now rest solely with the Gram Sabha. He stressed that works will align with the actual needs of the village — this is the true spirit of the scheme. With this Act’s implementation, villages can focus on water conservation, infrastructure development, livelihood-generating activities, and measures to mitigate natural disasters.

In his speech, the Union Minister asserted that the nation will progress only when its villages do, as India still resides in its rural heartlands. He recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s words: “The village is India’s soul, and the path to national prosperity runs along the ridges of our fields.”

He also noted that mandating 33 percent of work for women ensures their interests are protected, with ample opportunities secured not just in wage labour but in various other tasks as well.

Considering peak farming seasons, the Union Minister mentioned that state governments now have the authority to notify the deployment of workers for agricultural operations for a maximum of 60 days during sowing and harvesting, ensuring farmers do not face labour shortages.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan added that administrative expenditure has been increased from 6 percent to 9 percent, guaranteeing no delays or halts in payments to employment assistants. He assured that necessary instructions will be issued in coordination with the states to facilitate this.

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