(1)

Ļ¯ೇಷ ªಾಜÍ ಪĦÎೆ

Government of Karnataka

Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

Implementation of Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)-

VB-G RAMG Act, 2025

The State Government here by notifies the following scheme,

NOTIFICATION

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Viksit Bharat—

Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB—G RAM G Act,2025 The state

Government hereby the following Scheme, Namely: -

GO No: RDC 178 RI 2026 Dated: 25.06.2026

Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Scheme - Karnataka

This Scheme shall apply to the rural areas of all notified districts of the State with effect from

1^st July 2026 onwards.

CHAPTER I—SHORT TITLE, COMMENCEMENT AND DEFINITIONS

1. Short title and commencement

¨sÁUÀ – 4ಎ

Part – IVA

, 02

, 2026

1948)

BENGALURU, THURSDAY, 02, JULY, 2026 ( ASHADHA, 11, SHAKAVARSHA, 1948)

. 482

No. 482

1. This Scheme may be called the “Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika

Mission (Gramin) Scheme- Karnataka”.

2. It shall come into force on such date as may be notified by the State Government in

the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions

Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein shall have the meanings

assigned to them in Section 2 of the Act.

(a) “adult” means a person who has completed the eighteenth year of age;

(b) “Applicant” means the head of a household or any of its other adult members who

has applied for employment under the Scheme;

of Gram Panchayats;

(d) “Centrally Sponsored Scheme” means a scheme in which the Central Government

provides full or partial financial assistance and the State Governments undertake its

implementation;

(e) “District Programme Coordinator” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla

Panchayat, who is an officer of the State Government designated under sub-section

(1) of section 17 for the implementation of the Scheme in the district.

(f) “Household” means the members of a family related to each other by blood, marriage

or adoption and normally residing together in the same house and sharing meals or

holding a common ration card;

(g) “Implementing agency” includes any department of the Central Government or a

State Government, a Zilla Panchayat, Panchayat at intermediate level, Gram

Panchayat or any local authority or a Government undertaking, to undertake the

implementation of any work taken up under the Scheme;

(h) “Intermediate level” means a level between the village and district levels as specified

under clause (c) of article 243 to the Constitution of India;

(i) “National Level Steering Committee” means a steering committee constituted by the

Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 14;

(j) “Normative allocation” means the allocation of the fund made by the Central

Government to the State;

(k) “Notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the term

“notify” or “notified”, shall be construed accordingly;

(l) “Programme Officer” means an officer appointed under sub-section (1) of section 18;

(m) “Rural area” means any area in a State except those areas covered by any urban local

body or a Cantonment Board established or constituted under any law for the time

being in force;

(n) “Schedule” means Schedules appended to this Act;

(o) “Scheme” means the Scheme notified by the State Government under sub-section

(1) of section 3;

(p) “State” means a State specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution and

includes a Union territory;

(q) “State Council” means the State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council constituted

under sub-section (1) of section 13;

(r) “State Level Steering Committee” means a steering committee constituted under

sub-section (1) of section 15;

(s) “Unskilled manual work” means any physical work which any adult person is

capable of doing without any skill or special training;

(t) “Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack” means the consolidated

aggregation comprising proposed works emerging from the Viksit Gram

Panchayat Plans aggregated at the District and State levels, and aligned with the

four thematic domains of works specified in Schedule I;

(u) “Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan” means a future-ready, convergence- based local

development plan aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, formulated by the

Gram Panchayat through a participatory and evidence-based process, and serving as

the basis for identification and prioritisation of works under this Act, as provided

in sub-section (3) of section 4;

(v) “wage rate” means the wage rate referred to in section 10;

(w) “work” means any work undertaken or executed under the Scheme.

(x) “Peak Agricultural Season” means a period, not exceeding 60 days in a financial year, as may

be notified by the State Government during which no works shall be commenced or executed

under this scheme

CHAPTER II — OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

3. Objectives

(a) The primary objective of this Scheme is to align the rural development

framework with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by providing an

enhanced statutory wage- employment guarantee of one hundred and twenty-

five days in each financial year to such rural households whose adult members

volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work, thereby enabling them to

participate more effectively in the expanded livelihood security framework.

(b) To focus on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation through public

works aggregating into forming Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure

Stack, with a thematic focus on water security through water-related works,

core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and special works to

mitigate extreme weather events.

in view of the wage-employment guarantee for the rural workforce.

(d) To institutionalise convergence, saturation-driven planning and whole of

government delivery through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, integrated with the

PM Gati Shakti to address the varying needs of Gram Panchayats, powered by

geospatial systems, digital public infrastructure, district and State planning

mechanisms, with such plans aggregated at the Taluk, District, State and

National levels.

(e) To modernise governance, accountability and citizen engagement through a

comprehensive digital ecosystem, including biometric authentication at

various levels, global positioning system or mobile based worksite monitoring,

real time management information system dashboards, proactive public

disclosures and the use of Artificial Intelligence for planning, audits and fraud

risk mitigation.

CHAPTER III — GUARANTEES, TIME LIMITS AND CONDITIONS

4. Guarantee

(a) State Government shall, in such rural area in the State as may be notified by the

Central Government, provide to every household whose adult members volunteer

to do unskilled manual work, not less than one hundred and twenty-five days of

guaranteed employment in a financial year in accordance with the Scheme.

(b) Every person who has done the work given to him under the Scheme shall be entitled

to receive wages at the wage rate for each day of work.

later than a fortnight after the date on which such work was done.

(d) If an applicant for employment under the Scheme is not provided such employment

within fifteen days of receipt of the adult individual application seeking employment or

from the date on which the employment has been sought in the case of an advance

application, whichever is later, he/she shall be entitled to a daily unemployment

allowance in accordance with the provision of this section.

(e) In case the payment of wages is not made within fifteen days from the date of closure

of the muster roll, the wage seekers shall be entitled to receive payment of compensation

for the delay, at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day of delay beyond the

sixteenth day of closure of muster roll

5. Conditions for demand

(1) Every adult member of a registered household whose name appears in the

Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card, shall be entitled to apply for unskilled manual

work under the Scheme; and every such application shall be compulsorily

registered, and a receipt issued with the date, which shall be entered in the

given digital platform.

(2) The District Programme Coordinator (DPC) shall proactively verify the

requirements of the Vulnerable Groups and provide them with work.

(3) Application for work may be oral or written and made to the Panchayat

Development Officer or to the Gram Panchayat or to the Programme Officer

or any person authorized by the State Government or through digital

platforms like Panchamitra (whatsapp Governance), Sakala or through

Tollfree number or any other means authorised by the State Government.

(4) Applications for work may be filed individually or for a group together.

CHAPTER IV — PLANNING FRAMEWORK

6. Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP)

(1) A future-ready, convergence based local development plan aligned with the

vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, formulated by the Gram Panchayat through a

participatory and evidence-based process, and serving as the basis for

identification and prioritization of works under this Scheme.

(2) There shall be a systematic and participatory planning exercise undertaken at

each tier of the Panchayati Raj system in accordance with the specified

methodology. The Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans shall be prepared by the Gram

Panchayats using GIS-based tools, PM Gati Shakti layers and other digital public

infrastructure, and placed before the Gram Sabha for approval. Works

proposed to be undertaken by the Taluk Panchayat, District Panchayat or other

implementing agencies shall likewise be placed before the respective

Panchayats along with the expected outputs and outcomes. The Viksit Gram

Panchayat Plans shall be aggregated at the Taluk, District and State levels to

ensure coherence with sectoral priorities, broader rural development

strategies, and saturation-based planning for comprehensive coverage of

eligible assets and outcomes across all Gram Panchayats. All works emerging

from the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans shall be consolidated into the Viksit

Bharat—National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

(3) Every Gram Panchayat shall prepare saturation-mode plans based on its

classification into Category A, B, C, etc., determined based on development

parameters, including proximity to urban areas, to address the varying needs

of the Panchayats. All such works shall be drawn exclusively from the approved

Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan, prepared using PM Gati Shakti, GIS-based tools

and other digital public infrastructure.

(4) Annual plans would be prepared on the basis of the normative allocation.

(5) The works identified in the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans shall be executed

through various Central, State and local schemes in convergence. The schemes

to be taken up for such convergence shall be notified by the Central

Government.

(6) While preparing Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and annual labour demand, no

work shall be proposed for execution during notified peak agricultural periods.

7. Framework for Convergence and Integrated Planning—A Unified Convergence

Framework shall be established for coherent planning, execution and monitoring of

all works undertaken in rural areas, and for this purpose—

(1) All Central, State or local schemes, as may be notified by the Central Government for

the purpose of convergence and saturation-based planning, shall be brought under a

unified planning process anchored in the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans.

(2) All existing assets and proposed works, whether funded under this Scheme or

through any other Central, State or local scheme, shall be mandatorily registered and

tracked through the Viksit Bharat—National Rural Infrastructure Stack using the

designated digital portal, which shall maintain a comprehensive register of rural public

works, prevent duplication, integrate departmental investments, and align all works

with saturation outcomes.

(3) Single digital backbone for rural public works covering water security, core rural

infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and special works to mitigate extreme

weather events; and all planning shall follow a strict bottom-up process beginning with

the preparation of the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan, which shall be successively

aggregated at the Taluk, District and State levels, and the aggregated State Plan shall be

placed before the State Level Steering Committee for approval. Annual plans would be

prepared on the basis of the normative allocation.

(4) Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack shall guide States, Districts and

Panchayati Raj Institutions in identifying priority infrastructure gaps, standardizing

work designs, and ensuring that public investments contribute measurably to

saturation outcomes at the Gram Panchayat, Taluk and District levels.

(5) This institutional architecture shall ensure a single-plan, multi-funding approach,

promote convergence across departments and schemes, and align all rural development

efforts with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision of creating productive, resilient and

transformative rural assets.

CHAPTER V — STATE INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE

8. Karnataka State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council (KSGRGC)

(1) At the state level, there shall be a State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council, which

shall be called the " Karnataka State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council". The

Karnataka State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council shall have a state-level

General Assembly, which shall consist of the following office bearers/members:

(i) Chief Minister, Government of [State Name] - Chairperson.

(ii) Minister, Panchayat and Rural Development - Vice-Chairperson.

(iii) Ministers of Finance, Forest, Major Irrigation, Minor Irrigation

Revenue, Public Works, Agriculture, Social Welfare, Women and Child

Development, Disabled and Senior-Citizens Empowerment, Labour,

Law and Legislative Affairs Departments and others Government of

Karnataka

(iv) Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka.

(v) Secretary/ Principal Secretary/ Additional Chief Secretary of the

respective department.

(vi) Commissioner, Rural Development, Rural Development and PanchayatRaj

Department (VB—G RAM G Scheme) - Member Secretary.

(vii) Not more than fifteen non-official members nominated by the State

Government from Panchayati Raj Institutions, organisations of workers

and weaker sections of the society:

Provided that not less than one-third of the non-official members

nominated under this sub-section shall be women:

Provided further that not less than one-third of the non-official members

shall belong to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Other

Backward Classes and Minorities.

(2) The terms and conditions subject to which the non-official members of the

State Council may be appointed and the time, place and procedure of the

meetings (including the quorum at such meetings) of the Council shall be

notified as Rule separately.

(3) The duties and functions of the Karnataka State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee

Council:

(i) advising the State Government on all matters concerning the Scheme and

its implementation in the State;

(ii) reviewing the monitoring and redressal mechanisms from time to time

and recommending improvements;

(iii) monitoring the implementation of Act and the Scheme in the State and

coordinating such implementation with the Central Council;

(iv) preparing the annual report to be laid before the State Legislature by

the State Government;

(v) any other duty or function as may be assigned to it by the Central

Council or the State Government.

(4) The State Council shall have the power to undertake an evaluation of the

Scheme operating in the State and for that purpose to collect or cause to be

collected statistics pertaining to the rural economy and the implementation of

the Scheme and Programmes in the State.

9. State Level Steering Committee (SLSC)

(1) At the state level, there shall be a State Level Steering Committee, to provide

operational guidance, coordination, and monitor the implementation of the Scheme.

(2) The State Level Steering Committee shall be presided over by the Chief Secretary,

Govt. of Karnataka and shall comprise of the following members, namely:—

(i) Principal Secretary or Secretary of the respective Department;

(ii) Commissioner, Rural Development, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj;

(iii) Principal Secretaries or Secretaries of Finance, Revenue, Water

Resources, Agriculture, Social Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries,

Women and Child Development, Labour, Public Work depart of the State

Government;

(iv) Such number of subject-matter experts, as may be determined by the

State Government;

(v) Representatives of technical or research institutions; and

(vi) One member nominated by the Department of Rural Development,

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

(3) The State Level Steering Committee shall—

(i) oversee State wide planning and convergence with other programmes;

(ii) review of district performance and ensure timely preparation of the

aggregate State plan;

(iii) coordinate with the National Level Steering Committee and implement

directions issued therefrom;

(iv) support digital systems, monitoring arrangements, and process

improvements at the State level; and

(v) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the State

Government.

10. Responsibilities of Gram Panchayat

The Gram Panchayat shall be responsible for-

(1). Shall be principal authority for planning implementation and monitoring of the scheme

under this Act.

(2). Registration of households and issuance of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards;

(3). Receiving work applications and maintaining records of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards;

(4). Every Gram Panchayat shall, after considering the recommendations of the Gram Sabha

and the Ward Sabhas, keeping in view of the demand for works, prepare a Viksit Gram

Panchayat Plan on saturation basis;

(5). Annual plans would be prepared on the basis of the normative allocation.

(6). The Gram Panchayat shall allocate employment opportunities among the applicants and ask

them to report for work;

(7) The works taken up by a Gram Panchayat under the Scheme, shall meet the required technical

standards and measurements;

(8). Executing works allotted to it by the Programme Officer; and

(9). A Gram Panchayat may take up any work under the Scheme from Viksit Gram Panchayat

Plan within the area of the Gram Panchayat, as may be sanctioned by the Programme

Officer.

(10) The Programme Officer shall allocate at least fifty per cent. of the works in terms of its cost

under the Scheme to be implemented through the Gram Panchayats; Line

departments under the Scheme shall be designated as implementing agencies. These

departments shall submit the list of works to be taken up under the convergence

framework to the Gram Panchayat for approval by the Gram Sabha, and the works

shall thereafter be technically allocated to the respective implementing departments

for execution

11. Taluk Panchayats:

1. The Taluk Panchayat shall be the principal authority at the taluk level for

consolidating Gram Panchayat plans, and for overseeing, implementing, and

monitoring the Scheme at taluk level.

2. The Taluk Panchayat shall aggregate the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPP)

received from the respective Gram Panchayats within the taluk, based on the

recommendations of the Gram Sabhas.

3. The Taluk Panchayat may either accept the Viksit Bharat Gram Panchayat

Plan(VGPP) within fifteen (15)days of its receipt or recommend amendments to

its within seven(7) days of its receipt, but it shall not reject the VGPP.

4. The Gram Panchayat shall resubmit the VGPP, with of without incorporating the

recommended amendments, within seven(7)days. Upon resubmission, the Taluk

Panchayat shall only accept and aggregate the VGPP within (7)days, failing which

the VGPP shall be deemed to have been accepted and aggregated.

12. Zilla Panchayat(District Level)

(1). 1. The Zilla Panchayat shall be the principal authority for planning, implementation, and

monitoring of the Scheme under this Act at district level.

(2). The Zilla Panchayat shall oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Scheme in

the district, including finalization and approval of the aggregate district-level plan,

supervision and monitoring of works, ensuring convergence with line departments, and

performing such other functions as may be assigned by the State Government.

(3). Upon receipt of the aggregated taluk level plans from the Taluk Panchayat, the Zilla

Panchayat has to accept and approve the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) within

fourteen (14) days of receipt. it shall not reject any VGPP.

13. (a). District Programme Coordinator (DPC)

1. Chief Executive Officer shall be designated as the District Programme Coordinator

for the implementation of the Scheme in the district.

2. The District

Programme Coordinator

shall be responsible for the

implementation of the Scheme in the district in accordance with the provisions

of this Scheme and the rules made thereunder.

3. The functions of the District Programme Coordinator shall be as follows,

namely:—

(i) Shall be responsible for the consolidation and finalisation of the district

aggregate plan and shall oversee convergence, implementation and

monitoring of the Scheme at the district level in accordance with the

provisions of this Act;

(ii) Shall ensure compliance with the provisions of this Scheme and with the

directions and guidelines issued by the Central Government and the State

Government, and shall accord such administrative sanctions and

clearances as may be required for the timely and effective

implementation of the Scheme, including those relating to digital,

geospatial and monitoring systems;

(iii) Shall coordinate with Programme Officers, and shall review, monitor and

supervise their performance using the monitoring framework,

management information system and accountability mechanisms

established under the Act and the Scheme;

(iv) Shall conduct periodic inspections of works undertaken under the

Scheme, ensure adherence to quality and productivity standards, and

shall redress the grievances of applicants through digital public

infrastructure

and

designated

grievance

redressal

systems

issued/notified by the Central Government.

(v) The District Programme Coordinator, shall prepare an aggregate plan

for the district under his jurisdiction by consolidating the approved

Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and aggregated Taluk Plans and the

proposals received from the Zila Panchayats.

(b). District Nodal Officer (DNO)

i). The Deputy Secretary/Project Director, Rural Development, shall be designated as the

District Nodal Officer (DNO) or any other official designated by the State Government from

time to time for the implementation of the Scheme in the district.

ii). The DNO shall assist the District Programme Coordinator in implementation of the

Scheme in the district in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme and the rules made

thereunder.

iii). The functions of the DNO shall be as follows, namely: -

(1) Shall work under the direction, control and superintendence of the DPC.

(2) Responsible for disseminating all Government orders and instructions from the

Government relating to the scheme to all the POs, line departments and PRI bodies.

(3) Shall assist the DPC in finalization of aggregated VGPP at district level, Intra district

normative allocation.

(c). Programme Officer (Taluk Level)

1) The Executive Officer (EO) shall be designated as Programme Officer at the

panchayat at Taluk level.

2) Shall assist the Panchayat at the intermediate level in discharging its functions under

the Act and the Scheme made thereunder.

3) Shall be responsible for matching the demand for employment with the employment

opportunities arising from works in the area under his jurisdiction.

4) Shall prepare an aggregate plan for the Taluk under his jurisdiction by

consolidating the approved Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and the proposals

received from intermediate panchayats.

5) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (2), the functions of the Programme

Officer shall include—

(i) Monitoring all works and projects undertaken by the Gram Panchayats

and other implementing agencies within the Taluk, ensuring alignment

with the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans;

(ii) Sanctioning and ensuring payment of unemployment allowance to

eligible households in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(iii)

Ensuring prompt and fair payment of wages to all labourers

employed under the Scheme within the Taluk, including through digital

and biometric authenticated payment systems, as may be specified by the

Central Government;

(iv)

Ensuring that regular social audits of all works within the

jurisdiction of each Gram Panchayat are conducted by the Gram Sabha,

and that timely and appropriate action is taken on objections and findings

arising from such audits;

(v) dealing promptly with all complaints and grievances relating to the

implementation of the Scheme within the Taluk, through the grievance

redressal mechanisms established under sub-section (1) of section 25 of this

Act;

(vi) ensuring the geo-tagging, digital recording, and management information

system reporting of all works undertaken within the Taluk, and compliance

with monitoring, productivity, and transparency framework, specified by the

Central Government under this Act;

(vii) facilitating inter-departmental convergence at the Taluk level to support

saturation-driven planning and the execution of works under the Scheme;

and

(viii)

any other function as may be assigned to him by the District

Programme Coordinator and the State Government under this Act.

6. The Programme Officer shall perform his function under the direction, control

and superintendence of the District Programme Coordinator.

14. Social Audit by Gram Sabha

1. The Gram Sabha, shall monitor and review the execution of all works undertaken

under the Scheme within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat, in accordance

with the provisions of this Act.

2. The Gram Sabha shall conduct regular social audits of all works taken up under

the Scheme within the Gram Panchayat, as issued/notified by the Central

Government.

3. The Gram Panchayat shall make available to the Gram Sabha all records and

documents required for conduct of the social audit, including muster rolls, bills,

vouchers, measurement books, sanction orders, digital records, geo-tagged

photographs, and all other connected books of account and papers, whether

maintained in physical or electronic form.

CHAPTER VI — REGISTRATION AND ROZGAR GUARANTEE CARD

15. Registration of households

1. Household Registration—The adult member of every household residing in any

rural area and willing to undertake unskilled manual work, may submit the

names, ages and address of the household to the Gram Panchayat within whose

jurisdiction they reside, for the purpose of registration of the household and

issuance of a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card.

2. Special Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card, where the job seeker is—

(a) a single woman; or

(b) a person with disability; or

(d) a released bonded labourer; or

(e) a person belonging to a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group; or

(f) a transgender person.

3. The Special Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card of a distinct colour, shall ensure

special protection in the providing work, work evaluation, and worksite

facilities, as applicable.

16. Issue of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card

1. It shall be the duty of the Gram Panchayat, after making such enquiry, as it

deems fit, to issue a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card within fifteen days from

the date of receipt of such application, containing therein a unique Gramin

Rozgar Guarantee Card number with details of the registered adult members

of the household, their photos, Bank or Post office account number,

insurance policy number and the Aadhaar numbers, if any.

2. The Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card issued, shall be valid for three years, after

which it may be renewed after due verification.

3. No Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card shall be cancelled except on any of the

following grounds—

(a) where it is found to be a duplicate;

(b) where the entire household has permanently migrated to a place outside the

jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat and no longer resides in the village; or

4. The State Government shall make arrangements for updating the following

details in the Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card regularly while mentioning the key

guarantees under the Scheme are clearly listed as follows:—

(a) number of days for which work was demanded;

(b) number of days of work allocated;

(d) measurement details;

(e) unemployment allowance, if any, paid;

(f) date-wise amount of wages paid;

(g) delay compensation paid if any;

(h) asset provided, if any.

5. Every worker shall have an opportunity of being heard and register any

grievance either orally or in writing, at all implementation levels for disposal

as per the provisions of the Grievance Redressal Mechanism under the Scheme.

17. Issuance of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card in Case of Dislocation

1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Schedule, in the event of any

national calamity such as flood, cyclone, tsunami and earthquake resulting

in mass dislocation of rural population, the adult members of rural

households of areas so affected may—

a. seek for registration and get Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card issued by the

Gram Panchayat or Programme Officer of the area of temporary

relocation;

b. submit written or oral applications for work to the Programme Officer or

the Gram Panchayat of the area of temporary relocation; and

c. apply for re-registration and re-issuance of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card

in the event of any loss or destruction.

2. The details of such Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards shall be intimated to the

District Programme Coordinator.

3. In the event of restoration of normalcy, the Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card so

issued shall be re-endorsed at original place of habitation and clubbed with

the original Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card on being retrieved.

4. The number of days of employment provided shall be counted while

computing 125 days of guaranteed employment per household.

CHAPTER VII — DEMAND FOR WORK AND ALLOTMENT

18. Demand for Work

1. Every adult member of a registered household whose name appears in the

Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card, shall be entitled to apply for unskilled

manual work under the Scheme; and every such application shall be

compulsorily registered, and a receipt issued with the date, which shall be

entered in the given digital platform.

2. The State shall proactively verify the requirements of the Vulnerable Groups

and provide them with work.

3. Application for work may be oral or written and made to the Ward member

or to the Gram Panchayat or to the Programme Officer or any person

authorised by the State Government or through digital platforms like

Panchamitra (whatsapp Governance), Sakala or through Tollfree number or

through any other means authorised by the State Government.

4. Applications for work may be filed individually or for a group together.

5. There shall be no limit on the number of days of employment for which a person

may apply, or on the number of days of employment actually provided to him

subject to the aggregate guarantee of the household.

6. Normally, applications for work must be for at least six days of continuous

work.

7. Provision shall be made in the Scheme for advance application, that is,

application which may be submitted earlier than the date from which

employment is sought.

8. Provision shall be made in the Scheme for submission of multiple applications

by the same person provided that the corresponding periods for which

employment is sought do not overlap.

19. Allocation of Work

1. The Gram Panchayat and Programme Officer shall ensure that every applicant

shall be provided unskilled manual work in accordance with the provisions

of the Scheme within fifteen days of receipt of an application or the date from

which he seeks work in case of advance application, whichever is later.

2. Priority shall be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the

beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work.

Efforts to increase participation of single women and the person with disabilities

shall be made.

3. Applicants who are provided with work shall be so intimated in writing, by

means of a letter sent to him at the address given in the Gramin Rozgar

Guarantee Card or through any other effective mode of communication or by

a public notice displayed at the office of the Panchayats at district,

intermediate or village level.

4. A list of persons who are provided with the work shall be displayed on the

notice board of the Gram Panchayat and at the office of the Programme

Officer and at such other place as the Programme Officer may deem

necessary and the list shall be open for inspection by the State Government

and any interested person.

5. As far as possible, the employment shall be provided within a radius of five

kilometers of the village where the applicant resides at the time of applying.

6. A new work under the Scheme can be commenced if at least ten labourers

become available for work, provided that this condition shall not be

applicable for new works, as determined by the State Government, in hilly

areas and in respect of afforestation works.

7. In case the employment is provided outside the radius of five kilometers, the

labourers shall be paid ten per cent. of the wage rate as extra wages to meet

additional transportation and expenses for living.

8. A period of employment shall be for at least six days continuously, with not more

than six days in a week.

9. A 50% concession in the quantity of work shall be provided for the senior citizen,

pregnant women, lactating mothers, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Furthermore, if more than 60% of the workers participating are women, a 10%

concession in the quantity of work shall be provided to the said women and

transgender wage seekers.

CHAPTER VIII — MUSTER ROLLS, ATTENDANCE AND MEASUREMENT

20. Muster rolls

1. The muster rolls for works undertaken under this Scheme shall be maintained

through digital systems and shall comply with the following requirements—

a. Each muster roll shall be in English and the local language and have a

unique electronically generated identity number (e-muster) issued

through the management information system.

b. The muster roll shall include the names of all workers who have

demanded or been allocated work and shall be authenticated by the

authorised functionary of the Gram Panchayat or the Programme Officer.

21. Attendance recording

1. Attendance at the worksite shall be recorded daily by an authorised

person(Mate, BFT, GKM or any designated by GP) using biometric

attendance systems, and all attendance details shall be made available for

public viewing on a daily basis through the designated management

information system.

22. Measurement of work

1. Payment of wages shall only be made based on measurements taken at the

worksite by authorised technical personnel within three days of the closure of

the muster roll, and recorded digitally through systems integrated with the

designated management information system.

2. The State Government shall ensure the deployment of adequate technical

personnel to enable timely measurement. Suitable persons may be trained and

deployed, with delegated technical responsibilities, and shall be paid wages at

skilled rates.

CHAPTER IX — WAGE PAYMENT AND DELAY COMPENSATION

23. Wage payment

1. Wage rate to be paid to the worker will be decided and notified by the Central

Government.

2. the disbursement of daily wages shall be made on a weekly basis or in any case

not later than a fortnight after the date on which such work was done.

24. Mode of payment

1. The payment of wages shall, unless so exempted by the Central Government,

be made through the individual savings accounts of the workers in the

relevant Banks or Post Offices

25. Delay compensation

1. In case the payment of wages is not made within fifteen days from the date of

closure of the muster roll, the wage seekers shall be entitled to receive payment

of compensation for the delay, at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day

of delay beyond the sixteenth day of closure of muster roll.

2. Any delay in payment of compensation beyond a period of fifteen days from the

date it becomes payable, shall be considered in the same manner as the delay in

payment of wages.

3. For the purpose of ensuring accountability in payment of wages and to calculate

culpability of various functionaries or agencies, the States shall divide the

processes leading to determination and payment of wages into various stages

such as,—

a. Measurement of work(T+2);

b. Computerizing the muster rolls(T+3);

c. Computerising the measurements(T+3);

d. Generation of wage lists(T+4); and

e. Uploading Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs), within a time period of T+5)

and specify stage-wise maximum time limits along with the

functionary or agency which is responsible for discharging the

specific function.

4. The computer system shall have a provision to automatically calculate the

compensation payable based on the date of closure of the muster roll and the

date of deposit of wages in the accounts of the wage seekers.

5. District Programme Coordinator and Programme Officer shall pay the

compensation upfront after due verification within the time limits as specified

above and recover the compensation amount from the functionaries or agencies

who are responsible for the delay in payment.

6. The number of days of delay, the compensation payable and actually paid shall

be reflected in the Management Information System.

CHAPTER X — UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE

26. Eligibility

1. If an applicant for employment under the Scheme is not provided such

employment within fifteen days of receipt of his application seeking

employment or from the date on which the employment has been sought in

the case of an advance application, whichever is later, he shall be entitled to

a daily unemployment allowance in accordance with the provision of this

section.

2. No such rate shall be less than one-fourth of the notified wage rate for the first

thirty days during the financial year and not less than one-half of the wage

rate for the remaining period of the financial year

27. Procedure

1. The unemployment allowance payable to the household of an applicant

jointly, shall be sanctioned and disbursed by the Programme Officer or such

local authority (including the Panchayat at the District, intermediate or

village level).

2. Every payment of unemployment allowance shall be made or offered not later

than fifteen days from the date on which it became due for payment.

CHAPTER XI — CATEGORIES OF WORKS & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR

INDIVIDUAL BENEFICIARY WORK

28. Works & Categories under the Scheme-

1. Focus of the Scheme—Classification of Works: The Scheme shall focus on the

following categories of works, as identified in the Viksit Gram Panchayat

Plans and aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure

Stack.

2. the works to be taken up under the Scheme, shall fall under the following

Categories, together with their thematic focus and intended outcomes,

namely:—

A. Category I—Water-Related Works (for Water Security)—

a. The focus shall include conservation, irrigation, groundwater recharge,

source sustainability, rejuvenation of water bodies, watershed

development and afforestation and the Illustrative works include—

(i)

construction of canals, flood or diversion channels, check dams,

gully plugs and underground dykes;

(ii)

construction or rejuvenation of ponds, percolation tanks,

recharge pits, recharge shafts, injection wells and associated

water harvesting structures;

(iii) irrigation open wells, micro-irrigation channels and field water

distribution systems;

(iv) reclamation of community waterlogged land;

(v)

afforestation and plantation works linked with soil and

moisture conservation; and

(vi) rooftop rainwater harvesting and other decentralised

(vii) recharge systems.

b. Intended Outcomes—Strengthening of water security through

integrated water resource management, recharge and conservation for

long-term climate resilience.

B. Category II—Core Rural Infrastructure—

a. Thematic focus shall include core civic, social, governance and service-

delivery infrastructure relating to education, health, drinking water,

sanitation, connectivity, renewable energy and community services

and the Illustrative works include—

(i) construction or upgradation of rural roads, culverts, cross-

drainage structures and village connectivity facilities;

(ii) construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawans, Anganwadi

centres, rural libraries and other public buildings;

(iii) construction of school infrastructure, including kitchen

sheds, additional classrooms, laboratories, compound

walls and playgrounds;

(iv) crematoria and community infrastructure;

(v) solid and liquid waste management assets, including stabilising

ponds,

community

sanitary complexes,

and waste

segregation and collection centres;

(vi) installation of solar lighting systems and other renewable rural

energy infrastructure;

(vii) village parking areas, transport sheds and other common rural

amenities;

(viii) rural housing works permissible under the schemes of the

Central Government, including those permitted under the

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—Gramin; and

(ix) repair and maintenance of works created under the Jal Jeevan

Mission for ensuring water supply.

b. Intended Outcome—Creation of foundational civic and social

infrastructure ensuring basic amenities, improved service access and

enhanced quality of life in rural areas.

C. Category III—Livelihood-related Infrastructure—

a. Thematic focus shall include productive assets and facilities that enhance

rural livelihoods through agriculture, livestock, fisheries, value addition,

skilling and enterprise development and the Illustrative works include—

(i) construction of training-cum-skill development centres and

work sheds for livelihood activities;

(ii) rural haats or weekly markets and other market infrastructure;

(iii) food grain storage buildings, agricultural produce storage

structures, cold storage units and other agri-value chain

infrastructure;

(iv)

buildings for Self Help Groups and federation-level

institutions;

(v) compost structures, including vermicompost and NADEP

units;

(vi) development of silvipasture grasslands, dairy infrastructure

and shelters for cattle, goats, pigs, poultry and other

livestock;

(vii) fisheries-related infrastructure, including fish drying yards;

(viii) raising of nurseries and production of building material; and

(ix) Integrated projects promoting circular and cyclical economy

models, as may be approved by the Central Government.

b. Intended Outcome—Strengthening of sustainable livelihoods, value

addition, enterprise development and self-reliant rural economies.

D. Category IV—Special works to mitigate Extreme Weather Events and

Disaster Preparedness—

a. Thematic focus shall include disaster risk reduction, climate

adaptation, and protection of rural communities and assets from

floods, cyclones, storms, droughts, landslides, forest fires and other

extreme weather events and the Illustrative works include—

a. construction of cyclone shelters, flood shelters and multipurpose

disaster resilient structures;

b. construction of diversion channels, embankments and other

disaster-mitigation works;

c. stabilising ponds and water structures for flood management;

d. post-disaster rehabilitation, restoration and repair of rural roads

and community assets;

e. windbreak and shelterbelt plantations; and

f. forest fire management works, including fire

g. breaks, fuel buffer zones and allied measures.

b. Intended Outcome— Creation of climate-resilient villages capable of

withstanding extreme weather conditions.

3. Any other public work which may be notified by the Central Government.

4. Maintenance of rural public assets created under the Act.

5. Works for individual beneficiaries, including but not limited to housing- related

works under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana—Gramin, sanitation-related

works, and other beneficiary-oriented developmental works undertaken under

various schemes of the Central Government from time to time and expressly

notified for inclusion under the Scheme, may also be taken up. The eligibility of

such beneficiaries shall be as notified by the Central Government, aligned with

the eligibility criteria specified under the respective Central Government

schemes, with all such works conforming to the norms, standards and guidelines

issued by the Central Government.

29. Eligibility Criteria of the Beneficiary for Individual Beneficiary Work -

Without prejudice to the generality of the above, works creating individual assets as

notified by the Central Government shall be prioritised on land or homestead owned

by households belonging to—

a. the Scheduled Castes;

b. the Scheduled Tribes;

c. nomadic tribes;

d. denotified tribes;

e. economically weaker sections of the society as identified based on criteria

notified by the Central Government;

f. women-headed households;

g. households headed by persons with disabilities;

h. beneficiaries of land reforms;

i. beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana—Gramin (PMAY-G); and

j. beneficiaries under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers

(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (2 of 2007), and

after exhausting the eligible beneficiaries under the above categories, works may be taken

up on the lands of small or marginal farmers as identified on the basis of criteria notified

by the Central Government, subject to such conditions as may be notified by the Central

Government, including the requirement that such households possess a valid job card and

have at least one adult member willing to work on the project undertaken on their land or

homestead.

CHAPTER XII — WORKSITE MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY

30. Facilities at worksites

1. For the purpose of transparency at the worksite, the following shall be ensured—

a. There shall be a project initiation meeting in which various provisions of

the work shall be explained to the workers;

b. A copy of the sanction work order shall be available for public inspection

at the worksite;

c. Measurement record of each work and details of the workers shall be

available for public inspection;

d. A Citizens’ Information Board shall be put up at every worksite and

e. Updated regularly in the manner specified by the Central Government;

f. The vigilance and Monitoring Committee set up according to the

instructions of the Central Government may check all works and its

evaluation report will be recorded in the Works Register in the format

specified by the Central Government and submitted to the Gram Sabha

during the Social Audit.

2. The facilities of safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first

aid box with adequate material for emergency treatment for minor injuries and

other health hazards connected with the work being performed shall be provided

at the worksite.

3. In case the number of children below the age of five years accompanying the

women working at any site is five or more, provisions shall be made to depute

one of such women workers to look after such children. The person so deputed

shall be paid wage rate.

31. Safety and accidents

1. If any personal injury is caused to any person employed under the Scheme by

any accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, the

individual shall be entitled to such medical treatment as required, free of

cost.

2. Where hospitalisation of the injured worker is necessary, the State Government

shall arrange for such hospitalisation including accommodation, treatment,

medicines and payment of daily allowance which is not less than half of the wage

rate.

3. If a person employed under the Scheme meets with death or becomes

permanently disabled by accident arising out of and in the course of

employment, he or his legal heirs, as the case may be, shall be paid by the

implementing agency an ex gratia as per entitlement under the Pradhan

Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana or as may be notified by the Central

Government.

4. If any personal injury is caused by accident to a child accompanying a person

who is employed under the Scheme, such person shall be entitled to medical

treatment free of cost; and in case of death or disablement of the child due to

the said accident, ex gratia shall be paid to the legal guardians as determined

by the State Government time to time.

5. To prevent adverse effects of heatstroke during summer, a 30% concession in the quantity

of work shall be provided during the months of April and May in the districts recording

high temperatures, in accordance with the Government order issued from time to time.

CHAPTER XIII — RESTRICTION ON UNDERTAKING WORKS DURING PEAK

AGRICULTURAL SEASONS

32. Notification of Peak Agricultural Seasons

The State Government shall, in advance of each financial year, notify a period or

periods aggregating to sixty days in a financial year, covering the peak

agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting, during which no works under the

Scheme shall be undertaken.

33. Area-Specific Notifications

1. The State Government may issue distinct notifications for different areas of the

State, including districts, Taluks or Gram Panchayats, having regard to—

a. agro-climatic zones;

b. local patterns of agricultural activities; and

c. such other relevant factors as may be considered necessary.

2. Every notification issued under this provision shall have binding effect for the

purposes of the Act and the Scheme.

34. Prohibition on Works during Notified Periods

All authorities responsible for planning, sanctioning or executing works under the

Scheme shall ensure that no work except the works as decided by the State

Government is undertaken during the periods notified as peak agricultural seasons.

35. Scheduling of Works

The Programme Officer and other implementing authorities shall, while

approving the aggregated Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and scheduling works,

ensure that all works are taken up only outside the notified peak agricultural

seasons.

CHAPTER XIV — ESTIMATE, SANCTIONING AND WORK EXECUTION

36. ESTIMATES—

1. Technical Estimates and Standards for Works—Every work under this

Scheme shall have a technical estimate and design sanctioned by an

authority authorised by the State Government, based on the framework

aligned with the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

2. For works involving construction, appropriate labour-intensive technologies,

depending upon the availability of labour and the use of local materials, shall

be employed to the extent feasible.

3. Bills of quantities shall use clear and commonly understood terminology to

ensure transparency for all stakeholders.

4. Each work shall have a summary of the estimate, design and a technical note

indicating the expected outputs and outcomes.

5. All technical estimates, designs and outcome notes shall be generated or

uploaded through digital systems integrated with the designated

management information system.

37. Administrative and Financial Sanctions—

1. Works finalised at the Gram Panchayat level through the approved Viksit Gram

Panchayat Plan and aggregated at the Taluk and District levels shall be accorded

administrative or financial sanction by the competent authority as per the

requirements and within fourteen(14) days.

2. The sanctioning authorities shall ensure that—

a. the proposed works are drawn exclusively from the approved Viksit

Gram Panchayat Plan;

b. Annual plans would be prepared on the basis of the normative

allocation.

b. the works are consistent with thematic domains, and the Viksit Bharat

National Rural Infrastructure Stack;

c. all sanctioned works are taken up through the designated digital portal

under the Act.

38. Wage Linkage to Output and Schedule of Rates—

1. The State Government shall ensure that wages without any gender bias are

linked to the quantum of work completed, in accordance with the Rural

Schedule of Rates notified on the basis of time-and-motion studies for

different types of work and different seasons, and revised periodically.

39. Special Schedule of Rates for Vulnerable Groups—

A separate Schedule of Rates shall be finalised for women, the elderly, persons with

disabilities and persons with debilitating ailments to facilitate their productive

participation in suitable categories of work.

A 50% concession in the quantity of work shall be provided for the senior citizen, pregnant

women, lactating mothers, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Furthermore, if more than

60% of the workers participating are women, a 10% concession in the quantity of work

shall be provided to the said women and transgender wage seekers.

40. Working Hours and Earning Norms—

1. The Schedule of Rates shall be framed so that an adult person working for

eight hours, inclusive of one hour of rest, can earn an amount equivalent to

the notified wage rate.

2. Working hours of an adult worker may be flexible but shall not extend beyond

twelve hours in a day, including intervals for rest.

41. Inspection and Quality Control—

1. The State Government shall ensure regular inspection and supervision of works

by designated quality-control teams to verify adherence to quality standards,

accuracy of measurements and conformity of wage payments to the actual

quantum of work executed. Inspection reports shall be uploaded to the

management information system.

42. Completion of Ongoing Works—

1. At the time of opening new works, it shall be ensured that ongoing or

incomplete works are prioritised for completion, subject to planning norms

and the approved Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans.

43. Wage-Material Ratio

1. For all works taken up under the Scheme, by the Gram Panchayats and other

implementing agencies, the cost of material component shall not exceed

forty percent at the District level.

44. Execution Without Contractors—

1. No contractor shall be engaged for the execution of any work or component

financed through expenditure under this Act. All such works shall be

executed directly by the implementing agencies in accordance with the

processes laid down under the Scheme, including mandatory proactive

disclosures and the social audit process.

2. In cases of convergence where components of a work are financed under other

schemes, the execution of those components may follow the norms of the

converging scheme, including the use of contractors where permitted.

3. As far as practicable, works executed by the programme implementation

agencies shall be performed by using manual labour and no labour displacing

machines shall be used.

45. Transparent Procurement of Materials—

All materials required for the execution of works shall be procured by the Gram

Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat the implementing agency through transparent

procurement systems, including e-tendering processes, as specified by the State

Government. preference shall be given to the PO to achieve economies of scale.

CHAPTER XV — FUNDING PATTERN AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

46. Funding Pattern-

1. Centrally Sponsored Scheme: The Scheme shall be implemented as a Centrally