The Albany Gazette - Tamil Nadu Adds 25 State-Funded Workdays for Eligible Rural Households

Tamil Nadu will fund 25 additional days of wage employment for eligible rural households that complete 125 days under the VB-G RAM G programme.

The Tamil Nadu government disclosed an additional 25 days of wage employment from the state fund for eligible rural households completing 125 days under the VB-G RAM G scheme, official sources stated here on Tuesday.

As reported by an order, following the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, the union government commenced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme nationwide, which was subsequently implemented across Tamil Nadu starting July 1, 2026, offering a statutory guarantee of 125 days.

Reviewing the initiative, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay directed authorities to extend support up to 150 days per year.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RD-PRD) has issued an order granting administrative sanction to prioritise vulnerable households.

Priority for the extra 25 days is set to be given to women-headed households, single women, households with differently-abled persons, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and beneficiaries under the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Furthermore, the government has accorded a financial sanction of Rs 100 crore from the revised budget estimate 2026-2027 to support these additional person-days under the newly designated head of account "VETRI 150."

The RD-PRD commissioner has been authorised to execute the disbursement across all districts, excluding Chennai.

(B.Ramirez--TAG)