Marginal dip in number of rural job scheme workers, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) transitioned to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) on July 1, 2026.
• An analysis by LibTech India reported a 2.5% reduction in registered workers, from 27 crore to 26.33 crore, following the scheme's transition.
• Active workers under the program also saw a decline of 2.43%, affecting approximately 26.3 lakh individuals.
• The Rural Development Ministry disputed the findings, stating worker numbers are dynamic and states are responsible for record updates.
• Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana accounted for a significant portion of the reported worker reduction.

Detailed Insights:

• The transition to VB-G RAM G 2025 signifies a major policy shift in India's rural employment guarantee framework.
• LibTech India raised concerns about the lack of clear guidelines for protecting workers unable to complete e-KYC or facial recognition verification.
• The Rural Development Ministry clarified that states are mandated to follow Standard Operating Procedures for any worker deletions from the scheme.
• This reported reduction is the fourth instance linked to digital compliance measures, following Aadhaar-based payments, mandatory e-KYC, and facial recognition-based attendance.
• Under the new law, 84,000 Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards have already been issued, covering 1.91 lakh workers.
• Publicly available data currently lacks specific reasons for worker removal, prior notices issued, or demographic details of affected individuals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): A social security measure guaranteeing the 'right to work' for rural households.
• Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G): The new rural employment and livelihood mission replacing MGNREGS.
• e-KYC: Electronic Know Your Customer, a digital process for verifying the identity of an individual.
• Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards: Cards issued to eligible households under the rural employment guarantee program.