VB-GRAM G Act Explained : 125 Days Rural Employment vs MNREGA

VB-GRAM G Act Explained: Introduction

Table of Contents

Rural development has always been at the core of India’s governance philosophy. From community-led village republics to modern welfare schemes, India has constantly experimented with different models of rural upliftment. In recent years, the focus has shifted from mere welfare to structured, disciplined, and productivity-oriented rural employment. One such emerging framework is the VB-GRAM G Act.

The VB-GRAM G Act is designed as a special rural employment and development framework that provides 120 days of employment, strictly outside the farming season, with the clear objective of supporting agriculture rather than competing with it. This unique feature makes the VB-GRAM G Act fundamentally different from MNREGA, and that is why it has become an important topic for students, policymakers, and competitive exam aspirants.

This blog post explains the VB-GRAM G Act in simple English, covering its background, objectives, scope, important provisions, employment structure, farming season closure, and a detailed comparison with MNREGA

Background of VB-GRAM G Act

India’s rural employment policies have often faced a common criticism: distortion of agricultural labour markets. While schemes like MNREGA provide income security, they sometimes draw labour away from agriculture during sowing and harvesting seasons. This has affected farm productivity, wage balance, and rural economic discipline.

The VB-GRAM G Act emerged as a corrective policy framework, aiming to:

Provide employment during the non-farming or lean season
Protect agriculture as the primary livelihood
Prevent rural distress migration
Create productive village assets
Ensure disciplined and time-bound public works

Thus, the VB-GRAM G Act represents a second-generation rural employment model, where employment is supportive, not substitutive.

Meaning of VB-GRAM G Act

The VB-GRAM G Act can be understood as:

“A rural employment and village development framework that provides up to 120 days of work in a year, strictly excluding the farming season, with the objective of supplementing rural income while preserving agricultural productivity.”

In simpler terms, the VB-GRAM G Act provides off-season employment only. It does not aim to replace farming, nor does it guarantee year-round wage labour.

Objectives of VB-GRAM G Act

The objectives of the VB-GRAM G Act are clear, focused, and policy-driven.

Primary Objectives

Provide 125 days of employment during the non-farming season
Prevent labour diversion from agriculture
Supplement rural income, not replace it
Reduce distress migration during lean months
Create durable village assets

Secondary Objectives

Strengthen Gram Panchayat planning
Promote community participation
Improve rural discipline and productivity
Encourage self-reliant villages

Scope of VB-GRAM G Act

The scope of the VB-GRAM G Act is broader than a simple rural employment scheme.

1. Temporal Scope (Time-Based)

Employment is limited to 125 days
Activities are strictly prohibited during the farming season
Focus on lean agricultural months

The closure farming season is a defining feature of the VB-GRAM G Act.

2. Economic Scope

Rural wage employment
Asset creation
Infrastructure support
Village-level productivity enhancement

3. Administrative Scope

Gram Panchayat
Block Development Offices
District Administration
State-level rural development authorities

4. Employment creation

Employment creation is connected with infrastructure development, following four priority verticals:

Water security through water-related works
Core-rural infrastructure
Livelihood- related infrastructure
Special works to mitigate extreme weather events

Important Provisions of VB-GRAM G Act

1. Provision of 125 Days Employment

The VB-GRAM G Act explicitly limits employment to 125 days in a financial year.

No extension beyond 125 days
No employment on demand
Employment is planned and scheduled

This ensures that villagers do not become dependent on government work.

2. Mandatory Closure During Farming Season

One of the most significant provisions of the VB-GRAM G Act is:

Complete suspension of all activities during the farming season.

Purpose of Farming Season Closure

Protect agricultural labour availability
Prevent decline in crop productivity
Maintain food security
Respect rural agrarian cycles

This provision directly addresses one of the major criticisms of MNREGA.

3. Nature of Permissible Works

Under the VB-GRAM G Act, works must be:

Community-oriented
Asset-creating
Non-agricultural during farming season
Environmentally sustainable

Examples include:

Rural roads and drainage
Water conservation structures
Village sanitation infrastructure
Community buildings

4. Role of Gram Panchayat

The Gram Panchayat plays a central role under the VB-GRAM G Act:

Identification of beneficiaries
Preparation of work plans
Scheduling work outside the farming season
Monitoring and reporting

This strengthens grassroots governance under Article 40 of the Constitution.

5. Wage and Payment Structure

Wages linked to state-notified minimum wages
Timely payment through bank accounts
Transparency through records and audits

6. Prohibition on Farming Season Employment

The Act clearly prohibits:

Any public work during sowing or harvesting periods
Any employment that interferes with agricultural operations

Violation of this provision attracts administrative accountability.

Comparison Between VB-GRAM G Act and MNREGA

This comparison is frequently asked in exams.

1. Nature of Employment

Aspect	VB-GRAM G Act	MNREGA
Employment days	125 days fixed	100 days guaranteed
Employment type	Planned	Demand-based

2. Farming Season Rule

Aspect	VB-GRAM G Act	MNREGA
Farming season	Complete closure	No closure
Labour diversion	Prevented	Often occurs

3. Policy Philosophy

VB-GRAM G Act	MNREGA
Agriculture first	Employment first
Supplementary income	Primary income
Discipline-based	Rights-based

4. Long-Term Impact

VB-GRAM G Act promotes productivity and sustainability
MNREGA focuses on immediate social security

Advantages of VB-GRAM G Act

Economic Advantages

Balanced rural wages
Protection of the farm economy
Off-season income security

Social Advantages

Reduced distress migration
Community participation
Stronger village institutions

Administrative Advantages

Predictable planning
Reduced fiscal burden
Clear accountability

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its strengths, the VB-GRAM G Act faces challenges:

Accurate identification of the farming season
Climate variations
Local administrative capacity
Awareness among rural workers

These challenges can be addressed through better planning and digital monitoring.

Constitutional and Policy Significance

The VB-GRAM G Act aligns with:

Article 38 – Welfare State
Article 39 – Livelihood security
Article 40 – Village self-governance
Directive Principles of State Policy

It reflects a balanced welfare approach, combining economic justice with productivity.

Conclusion

The VB-GRAM G Act represents a mature evolution of rural employment policy in India. By limiting employment to 125 days and enforcing mandatory farming season closure, it corrects many structural weaknesses of earlier schemes. The Act ensures that agriculture remains the backbone of rural life, while government employment plays a supportive and seasonal role.

For students, the VB-GRAM G Act is an important topic under Polity, Governance, and Rural Development. For policymakers, it offers a sustainable alternative model. For rural India, it promises dignified employment without sacrificing agricultural productivity.

I am from a village, and I have closely observed the working culture of MNREGA. MNREGA has created a culture of Chamcha who roam around the gram pradhan and get their name enrolled in MNREGA, and nothing take wadges or the real labourers have to give a portion of wages to midle man to get their name enrolled in MNREGA. If the VB-GRAM G Act brings any valuable change in MNREGA is a welcome step. I saw how farmers are facing the shortage of agricultural labor