Bengaluru, August 5, 2026: Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has directed the department to immediately issue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and detailed implementation guidelines for the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) to all Gram Panchayats across the state.
The minister said the move aims to ensure maximum employment for rural households, particularly at a time when below-normal rainfall has affected livelihoods in many parts of Karnataka. He instructed officials to create at least five lakh person-days of employment every day under the scheme while focusing on the creation of durable and quality rural assets.
Clear Guidelines Needed
Khandre said some Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) had reported confusion over the implementation of the new scheme due to the absence of detailed operational guidelines.
To address the issue, he asked the department to circulate comprehensive instructions covering:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Administrative and technical guidelines
- Model estimates for works
- Cost limits
- 60:40 wage-to-material ratio
- Yuktadhare portal procedures
- Responsibility mapping
- Action plan formats
He directed officials to send these guidelines to all implementing agencies by the end of this week.
Focus on Rural Employment
The minister said the State Government has implemented VB-G RAM G, the new version of MGNREGS, despite financial constraints to protect the interests of poor and vulnerable rural families.
He stressed that the scheme must provide employment to farmers, labourers, women, Scheduled Castes, persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups affected by the rainfall deficit. "If the scheme fails to provide adequate employment to rural poor during this difficult period, its very purpose will be defeated," he said.
Khandre also instructed officials to launch an Intensive Interpersonal Communication (IPC) campaign. He asked Gram Panchayats to conduct door-to-door awareness drives and educate rural families about the individual and community works available under the new scheme.
Target of Five Lakh Jobs Every Day
The minister directed the department to ensure employment for at least five lakh people every day under VB-G RAM G. He also set a target of generating 1.5 crore person-days of employment every month, along with creating durable rural infrastructure across the state.
According to Khandre, the scheme has already approved 318 categories of works, and detailed designs, technical specifications, standard schedules and rates should be shared with all implementing officers without delay.
The Centre recently launched VB-G RAM G, replacing the 100-day employment guarantee under MGNREGS with a 125-day statutory rural employment guarantee. Karnataka is now accelerating implementation by issuing detailed operational guidelines to Gram Panchayats, with a focus on increasing employment and improving rural infrastructure.
Keywords
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