Agartala, February 11: At a public representatives’ conference held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan on Wednesday, rural development projects worth over ₹546 crore were virtually inaugurated and laid foundation by Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The event was attended by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, MP Biplab Kumar Deb, members of the state cabinet, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister said the VVG Ram-Ji Act, 2025 lays down a comprehensive roadmap for the holistic development of rural India in line with the vision of building a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. He stated that the new legislation aims to improve rural infrastructure and significantly uplift the economically weaker sections.
Under the Act, the guaranteed employment period will be increased from 100 days to 125 days annually. It also includes provisions for unemployment allowance if work is not provided on time after demand, and payment of interest if wages are delayed beyond 15 days. The Union Minister informed that ₹15,600 crore has been allocated for the scheme in this year’s Union Budget, and nearly ₹10 lakh crore is expected to be spent over the next five years. If implemented effectively, he said, the initiative could dramatically improve rural living standards.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan further remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the North-East as “Ashtalakshmi,” adding that Tripura reflects the true spirit of that vision. He said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India is emerging as a strong, prosperous nation and is moving towards becoming a global leader.
Responding to criticism from opposition parties, the Minister said objections to the Act are politically motivated and lack substantive basis. He added that administrative expenditure has been enhanced to ensure proper remuneration for grassroots functionaries such as GRS and technical staff involved in implementing the scheme.
Praising the Tripura government, he said that 19 percent of the houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the state have already been completed. He also noted that the state has exceeded its target in creating “Lakhpati Didis.” The Centre is considering financial allocation for constructing nearly two lakh more houses in the state in the coming days.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 108 habitations will be connected through newly constructed roads. The Minister also announced that a team of ICAR agricultural scientists will soon be sent to Tripura to support agricultural development. Additionally, the state will receive an extra ₹60 crore under the RKVY mission for the current financial year.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, speaking as the chief guest, described the introduction of the Act as a historic step towards ensuring employment security for rural people. He accused opposition parties of attempting to mislead the public. The Chief Minister said the new law seeks to address shortcomings of MGNREGA and emphasizes transparency, accountability, quality control, and long-term asset creation. He added that greater use of technology would help eliminate middlemen and curb corruption.
Panchayat Minister Kishore Barman stated that through transparency, accountability, and good governance, Tripura has set a new benchmark in rural development, winning seven awards in various sectors. He said the core objective of the Act is to strengthen the rural economy and contribute to building a strong India.
During the event, the state government formally handed over a resolution supporting the enactment of the VVG Ram-Ji Act to the Union Minister. As part of the beneficiaries’ conference, cheques were distributed to Self-Help Group members, along with soil health cards, houses under PMAY, and symbolic keys of vehicles to selected beneficiaries.
The programme concluded with an interaction session between the Union Minister, the Chief Minister, and members of the media.
