NEW DELHI: The new rural employment scheme VB-G RAM G — rolled out from July 1 — has laid significant focus on strengthening water security in villages, allotting 107 of 318 permissible works to the addressing the issue in the employment guarantee framework’s interim list — an initiative that could tackle a El Nino-triggered rain deficiency situation.In view of challenges posed by climate change, the gram panchayats will also be able to take up projects related to disaster mitigation and when an area is impacted by situations like droughts and floods more works can be added to the list of activities under the VB-G RAM G scheme.These details were shared during a presentation before ministers of various states at a two day national conference ‘Gramodaya Se Rashtrodaya’ organised by the ministry of rural development on June 28 and 29 to discuss the implementation and progress of major rural development schemes including the rollout of VB – G RAM G scheme.Expressing concern over the possibility of below-normal rainfall, minister for rural development and agriculture farmers’ welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged the states expected to be impacted, to remain vigilant and prepare in advance for any adverse situation. He directed state governments that could be impacted by rainfall deficit to strengthen water conservation structures to stock water for irrigation and drinking purposes and make adequate preparations to generate additional employment opportunities in rural areas if required.Referring to the El-Nino triggered rain deficiency, the minister said, “This time monsoon is late and its impact is expected to be felt in 315 districts and of these 111 districts are more vulnerable,” the minister said citing IMD and experts. He listed out the states which include Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal and Odisha.Besides water security, the framework has identified three thematic focus areas – core rural infrastructure, rural livelihoods and disaster mitigation and the list of 318 permissible works includes 88, 86 and 37 works in these three categories respectively.As far as the kind of works that are probably being included in the list for the first time, officials share that two of the four thematic focus domains have been included for the first time under the scheme. Under the thematic area ‘livelihood related infrastructure’ some of the permissible works going forward would include facilities for cold storage, skilling centres and agricultural produce processing units.The special works to mitigate extreme weather events and disaster preparedness will include embankments, retaining walls, flood diversion channels, multipurpose disaster relief centres and forest fire management works.
