61.5% of women taking up G RAM G work shows positive indicator of rural livelihoods

Times of India Published Aug 20, 2026 Reviewed Aug 21, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

The rollout of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB G RAM G Act) has generated over 11.4 crore person-days since its launch, according to the government portal.

more than 11.4 crore person-days · VB G RAM G Act government portal, official source

Women account for 61.5% of the total person-days generated under the VB G RAM G Act so far, according to the government portal.

61.5 % · women government portal, official source

Under MGNREGA, women's participation in person-days rose to 58.9% in 2023-24, the highest recorded percentage, according to data from 2013-14.

58.9 % · women data from 2013-14, historical data

In 2025-26, women accounted for 57.25% of person-days under the VB G RAM G Act, according to the government portal.

57.25 % · women government portal, official source

The interim base wage rate for the VB G RAM G scheme was set at Rs 300 per day from its rollout on July 1, according to the government portal.

300 Rs per day · wage rate government portal, official source

The national average notified wage rose from Rs 298.8 per day under MGNREGA to Rs 327.4 per day under VB G RAM G, an increase of Rs 28.6 per day, according to the government portal.

298.8 Rs per day · wage327.4 Rs per day · wage28.6 Rs per day · wage increase government portal, official source

The panel chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka recommended instituting a minimum wage floor of Rs 400 per day with regional differentiation, according to the panel's report.

400 Rs per day · minimum wage floor Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, panel chair

NEW DELHI: Over 11.4 crore person-days have been generated since the rollout of Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB G RAM G Act), which replaced MGNREGA, according to the govt portal on the new scheme. Women account for 61.5% of the total person-days so far.Even under the now-repealed MGNREGA, women's participation over the years was over 50%, with data available from 2013-14 indicating a rise, which saw 2023-24 witnessing the highest 58.9%.

In 2025-26, the women person-days was at 57.25% .While this is seen as a positive indicator of livelihood options for rural women, civil society organisations have over the years said that women comprise a growing majority as men often seek out open-market or male-specific agricultural wages that exceed the scheme's statutory payouts.Amid continuing demands from states for raising the wages, revised wage rates were notified by govt, with a new interim base wage rate of Rs 300 per day when VB G RAM G scheme was rolled out from July 1.

The national average notified wage was cited to have increased from Rs 298.8 per day under MGNREGA to Rs 327.4 under VB G RAM G, representing an average increase of Rs 28.6 per day. Prior to the notification, wage rates in several states were below Rs 300, with the lowest notified wage being Rs 241 per day.However, the parliamentary standing committee on rural development and panchayati raj, in its report submitted last week in Parliament, reiterated its concern over the wages and recommended that the department of rural development carry out a comprehensive review of the wage-determination methodology, including the appropriateness of the 2011 base year and the adequacy of Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL).

The panel recommended that the ministry consider instituting a minimum wage floor of Rs 400 per day with regional differentiation and ensure systematic and meaningful indexation to a robust inflation indicator that reflects actual rural living costs."Pending structural revision, necessary fiscal space should be sought for a significant upward adjustment in the current cycle," the panel chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka said.

The panel has sought an action taken report on the fresh recommendations from the department of rural development within three months.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

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