Posted On:
02 NOV 2026 12:43PM by PIB Patna
The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Bihar and the Indo-German Development Cooperation project Adaptive Social Protection of Vulnerable Communities for Enhanced Rural Resilience (AVCERR), is organising a two-day national dialogue, ‘Climate Manthan: Transforming Rural India through VB–G RAM G’, on 2–3 November 2026 at the International Convention Centre, Gaya Ji, Bihar.
The dialogue brings together representatives of States and Union Territories, Central Ministries, technical institutions, academia, development partners, civil society organisations and field practitioners to deliberate on integrating climate resilience and disaster preparedness into rural development planning and implementation.
Addressing the inaugural session, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Shri Rohit Kansal, emphasised that climate and disaster risks must become an integral part of rural development planning rather than being treated only as matters of emergency response. He highlighted that the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 must be built through prosperous, inclusive and resilient Gram Panchayats. He observed that VB–G RAM G provides an important opportunity to integrate guaranteed employment, productive asset creation, livelihood strengthening and climate resilience. He also underscored the importance of convergence among Ministries, State Governments and development partners, supported by scientific assessments, geospatial information and local community knowledge.
Joint Secretary, Smt. Rohini Bhajibhakre, highlighted the importance of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) in identifying local development priorities and addressing climate-related vulnerabilities. She emphasised that Category IV works, covering mitigation of extreme weather events and disaster preparedness, should be selected on the basis of local risks and vulnerabilities. She also stressed that the success of an asset should be assessed not merely by its completion, but by its functionality, quality and long-term usefulness to the community. Strengthening technical capacities, meaningful community participation and convergence from the planning stage are essential for achieving resilient rural development.
VB–G RAM G: Linking Employment with Climate Resilience
The VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year and identifies 375 permissible works across four broad categories:
- Water-related works for water security;
- Core rural infrastructure;
- Livelihood-related infrastructure; and
- Special works for mitigation of extreme weather events and disaster preparedness.
The dialogue places particular emphasis on Category IV works, which include interventions such as cyclone and flood shelters, diversion channels, embankments, windbreaks and shelterbelts, forest-fire management measures and post-disaster restoration of rural roads and community assets.
Gram Panchayat Planning, Convergence and Knowledge Sharing
The deliberations focus on making VGPPs more responsive to local climate risks through community participation, scientific assessments, geospatial information and tools such as Yuktdhara. Discussions also cover convergence with relevant Ministries and programmes, climate-proofing rural assets, heat resilience, renewable energy and strengthening livelihoods across agriculture, livestock, aquaculture and non-farm sectors.
The programme features a Climate Market Place for States and Union Territories to showcase good practices and innovations, and a Climate Risk-to-Works Lab to translate identified climate risks into appropriate rural development interventions. Technical sessions and State-level experience-sharing provide an opportunity to identify practical solutions, implementation challenges and areas requiring institutional and technical support.
The dialogue also highlights knowledge resources, including Viksit Gram Darshika, Aapada Kavach, climate-resilience and disaster-preparedness skilling resources, and guidance on heat action through VB–G RAM G, to support planning, capacity building and field-level implementation.
Organised in collaboration with the Indo-German Development Cooperation project AVCERR, implemented by GIZ, the dialogue seeks to strengthen institutional capacities and promote practical approaches for climate-resilient rural development.
Through ‘Climate Manthan’, the Ministry aims to strengthen Centre–State cooperation, promote inter-departmental convergence and identify actionable approaches for integrating climate resilience and disaster preparedness into rural development. The dialogue seeks to advance the vision of climate-resilient, disaster-prepared and prosperous Viksit Gram Panchayats, contributing to Viksit Bharat @2047.