Patna: Bihar will organise district-wise ‘Panch Sammelans’ across Gram Panchayats by August 15 to familiarise elected Panchayati Raj representatives and officials with the new Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Aajivika Mission Gramin (VB-GIRAMJI) scheme.
The campaign will bring together administrative officials, Mukhiyas, ward members and Panchayat representatives to explain the scheme’s provisions, implementation process and responsibilities at the local level, according to Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar.
Why Are Panch Sammelans Being Organised?
The conferences are intended to explain the differences between the existing MGNREGA framework and VB-GIRAMJI, which the government says came into effect from July 1, 2026.
According to the minister, the new scheme is not limited to providing employment. It also focuses on creating durable assets and strengthening the rural economy through projects based on local requirements and available resources.
Panchayat representatives will be encouraged to prepare development plans after assessing the needs and resources of their respective areas.
Four Areas Of Development Under The Scheme
The government has outlined four broad areas for development activities under VB-GIRAMJI.
These include water conservation and natural resource management, sustainable rural infrastructure, productive assets for rural livelihoods, and green development initiatives aimed at addressing climate-related challenges.
According to the government, projects in these areas could simultaneously generate employment and create lasting assets related to roads, irrigation, water conservation, environmental protection and rural livelihoods.
Digital Systems To Improve Transparency
Technology will form an important part of the proposed implementation mechanism.
The government plans to use biometric and facial authentication at work sites, along with digital systems for real-time attendance and monitoring of projects.
Digital wage payments are also intended to make the payment process more transparent and reduce complaints related to delays or discrepancies.
Unemployment Allowance And Grievance Redressal
The scheme also provides for unemployment allowance alongside provisions for timely wage payments, according to the government.
A grievance redressal mechanism is proposed to ensure that complaints originating at the Panchayat level can be reported to the appropriate authorities and addressed through a defined process.
Panchayats To Play A Larger Development Role
The government wants Panchayats to move beyond their traditional role of implementing individual schemes and become stronger units of local development.
During the Panch Sammelans, elected representatives will be briefed on how to identify projects based on local requirements, available resources and expected outcomes.
The administration expects better coordination between Panchayat representatives and officials to improve planning, monitoring and implementation at the grassroots level.
Campaign To Continue Until August 15
The awareness campaign will continue across Bihar’s Gram Panchayats until August 15.
The government’s stated objective is to ensure that Panchayat representatives understand the new scheme before preparing and implementing local development plans, with greater emphasis on transparency, digital monitoring and creation of durable rural assets.
