Patna: During a review meeting held on Thursday at the ‘Sankalp’ hall in the Lok Sevak Awas, Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary stated that the government’s priority is to ensure the comprehensive and balanced development of villages, alongside increasing the availability of employment in rural areas.
The Chief Minister noted that under the ‘Viksit Bharat – Rozgar evam Aajeevika Guarantee Mission (Gramin)’ (VB-G-RAM-G), rural households are guaranteed 125 days of employment per year. Funding for the mission will be shared between the Central and State governments in a 60:40 ratio. He emphasized the need to ensure that wages are paid within a stipulated timeframe—specifically, within 15 days.
The Chief Minister directed that schemes worth Rs 22,000 crore, aimed at the comprehensive development of villages and the generation of rural employment, be incorporated into the VB-G-RAM-G mission. An expenditure of Rs 12 lakh is earmarked for the construction of each Anganwadi center, with an additional Rs 2 lakh allocated for furnishings, educational materials, and furniture.
He noted that while 1.5 lakh projects have already been initiated under the VB-G-RAM-G mission, this number should be increased to 3 lakh. He instructed that all essential requirements in the state’s villages be addressed on a priority basis; relevant departments should coordinate these efforts, and District Magistrates should maintain continuous oversight. Work should be expedited to provide essential rural infrastructure, including Anganwadi centers, schools, healthcare facilities, rural markets (haats), plantation drives, water conservation projects, and playgrounds for students.
The Chief Minister further stated that efforts to develop Gram Panchayats under the mission should be carried out in a structured, planned manner. The initiatives will focus on four key areas: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement, and disaster management. He directed that the implementation of schemes be carried out in a phased manner, emphasizing the increased use of technology for monitoring progress and ensuring transparency. He also stressed the importance of an effective social audit system and the prompt redressal of public grievances.
The Chief Minister directed that special priority be given to the creation and development of basic infrastructure in rural areas under the ‘Seva Sankalp evam Kayakalp Abhiyan’ (Service Commitment and Transformation Campaign).
Regarding water conservation in the state, the Chief Minister stated that the renovation of canals, reservoirs, and other water structures is essential. He emphasized that the repair and restoration of these structures must be completed on a priority basis. He instructed District Magistrates to monitor these tasks regularly to ensure that the schemes are implemented in a timely and high-quality manner. He further directed the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to work towards achieving the set targets for water conservation and afforestation. The Chief Minister underscored that priority must be given to water conservation initiatives to maintain groundwater levels and meet future water requirements. He added that tree plantation and water harvesting efforts should be carried forward in a coordinated manner.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Minister for Building Construction Leshi Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department CK Anil, and other senior officials.
