Centre Notifies Grievance Redressal Rules For Job Scheme; Key Provisions Dropped, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Union Ministry of Rural Development has notified new Grievance Redressal Rules for the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).
• Key provisions dropped from the draft rules include mandatory registration of an FIR for financial irregularities and placing action-taken reports before local body meetings.
• These dropped provisions were previously part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) rules.
• The new rules stipulate that grievances must be resolved within a period of 15 days.
• VB-G RAM G officially replaced MGNREGA across rural India from July 1, 2026.

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Detailed Insights:

• The dropped clauses, particularly regarding FIRs and local body reviews, were aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the previous rural employment scheme.
• A proposal for a "designated day" each week for grievance officials to receive complaints was also removed from the final rules.
• Complaints can be submitted through various channels, including in person, Speed Post, a designated digital platform, or telephone helplines.
• The rules explicitly state that no grievance can be refused registration based on its format, language, manner of submission, or procedural deficiencies.
• Grievances received in physical form at Gram Panchayat, Block, or District levels must be entered onto the digital platform on the same day or by the next working day.
• Complainants are entitled to receive an acknowledgment containing a registration number, date of receipt, and details of the receiving authority.
• Grievance officers are required to complete inquiries within seven days of receiving a complaint and communicate their findings and actions to the complainant.
• Unresolved grievances must be escalated after 15 days and tracked until their final disposal.
• The rules also incorporate provisions for appeals under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G): A new central legislation that came into effect on July 1, 2026, replacing MGNREGA to provide enhanced rural employment and livelihood security.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): A social security measure enacted in 2005 that guaranteed 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to rural households.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism: A formal system established to receive, process, investigate, and resolve complaints or grievances from individuals or groups.