CM-Led Rozgar Guarantee Council To Monitor VB G RAM Act
According to the gazette notification, workers must receive wages every week or, at the latest, within 15 days of completing work.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has decided to constitute a State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council led by Chief Minister to oversee and monitor the implementation of the VB-G RAM G Act. It will ensure implementation of key provisions, including enhancement of guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days in a financial year, timely wage payments, unemployment allowance for eligible applicants and a multi-tier monitoring mechanism.
According to the gazette notification, workers must receive wages every week or, at the latest, within 15 days of completing work. If delayed, the government will have to pay compensation at the rate of 0.05 per cent of the unpaid wages for every day of delay from the 16th day until payment is made.
The notification mandates that applicants seeking work under the scheme should be provided employment within 15 days of submitting their applications. Failure to do so will make them eligible for a daily unemployment allowance.
The Council will monitor implementation of the Act, review the programme's performance, advise the government on policy matters and submit an annual report to the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
A state-level steering committee headed by an officer of the rank of Chief Secretary or special chief secretary will oversee implementation of the state plan and perform functions assigned by the government. Collectors will coordinate implementation at the district level, while zilla and mandal parishads will execute the scheme locally.
The notification enhances the guaranteed employment under the scheme from 100 to 125 days in a financial year. Every rural household willing to undertake unskilled manual work will be registered by the Gram Panchayat and issued a Rural Rozgar Guarantee Card. Every adult member of a registered household will be eligible to seek work, with wages paid as notified by the Centre.
Gram panchayats have been directed to prepare labour budgets and work plans, which must be approved by Gram Sabhas and consolidated at the mandal, district and State levels before being uploaded on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack portal. Approved works will be implemented by converging Central, State and local government schemes.
The government has also prescribed mandatory worksite facilities. In the event of a worker's death or permanent disability during employment, compensation will be paid under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) or as per Central government norms. Strict provisions have also been included to recover misused funds under the Revenue Recovery Act and establish grievance redressal mechanisms. Separate notifications will identify a 60-day lean agricultural period, in line with Central guidelines, during which no works under the scheme will be taken up.