The Ministry of Rural Development has notified a new schedule of permissible works under the ‘Viksit Bharat-Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) [VB-G RAM Ji] Act, 2025’. This new rural works framework incorporates 375 types of activities. The new schedule represents an expansion of approximately 41% compared to the 266 permissible works in the previous framework. These activities are categorized into four key pillars: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and extreme weather events & disaster preparedness.
Emphasis on Creating Durable Assets Alongside Employment
The new rural works framework is not limited to the creation of traditional assets; rather, it emphasizes linking wage employment with durable rural assets and measurable development outcomes. Each activity will originate from a decentralized planning process at the grassroots level under the ‘Viksit Gram Panchayat Yojana’. These plans will require approval from the Gram Sabha, and the works will be digitally monitored through the ‘Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack’.
Water Security Accounts for the Largest Share with 128 Works
Water security has received the largest share among the four pillars, with 128 permissible works included in this category. These include check dams, gully plugs, subsurface dams, recharge shafts, injection wells, the rejuvenation of rivers, rivulets, and drains, the reclamation of waterlogged land, and the renovation of on-farm water distribution channels.
New Measures for Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting
Under water security, provisions have also been made for activities such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, rooftop rainwater harvesting, and the construction of tankas (traditional water storage tanks). Additionally, innovative measures like ‘ice stupas’ and artificial glaciers for water conservation and irrigation have been included in the list of permissible works. 111 Works for Rural Infrastructure
The ‘Core Rural Infrastructure’ pillar comprises 111 activities aimed at strengthening essential civic amenities and infrastructure in rural areas. These include solar street lighting, waste-to-wealth recycling plants, grey-water treatment units, waste segregation sheds, rural libraries, veterinary and rural health centers, and Common Service Centers.
Emphasis on Schools and Community Facilities
The new list also provides for the construction of multi-purpose youth centers, community facilities, and additional classrooms and laboratories in government schools. Along with the repair and maintenance of water supply infrastructure under the Jal Jeevan Mission, rural parks, walkways, and other village-level amenities have been included as permissible works.
98 Works for Livelihood-Related Infrastructure
Ninety-eight permissible activities have been identified to strengthen rural livelihoods and value chains. These include infrastructure for agro-processing and value addition, cleaning, grading, and packaging units, cold storage facilities, mini flour mills, agricultural market complexes, dairy infrastructure, mushroom production sheds, sericulture sheds, poly-houses, and aquaculture structures.
Support for Self-Help Groups and Rural Enterprises
Infrastructure provisions for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations have also been made under livelihood-related activities. This includes SHG work sheds, ‘She-Marts’, federation buildings, and training-cum-skill development centers. The share of livelihood-related activities has been increased to approximately 26% of the total permissible works, whereas it stood at only 1.1% in the previous framework.
Dedicated Category for Disaster Preparedness
For the first time, a dedicated category for disaster preparedness and extreme weather events has been created within the rural works framework. Thirty-eight permissible activities have been identified under this category. These include flood relief shelters, protection walls, embankment strengthening, flood protection works, and the restoration of rural roads and community assets following disasters.
Special Focus on Farmers and Agricultural Activities
The new schedule incorporates a total of 181 works related to agriculture and allied activities. Of these, 52 are individual beneficiary works. These activities—spanning water, land, plantation, livestock, and other productive assets—can play a pivotal role in providing direct support to farmers.
107 Works for Vulnerable Families
A total of 107 works have been designated for Antyodaya and vulnerable families, including 68 individual beneficiary works. These will cover areas such as housing, sanitation, energy, irrigation, plantation, livestock shelters, and other household-level assets.
Specific Provisions for Women and Youth
The new framework includes 36 works each dedicated to women’s empowerment and youth empowerment. These encompass the creation of infrastructure for women’s groups, self-help groups, and their federations, as well as facilities for youth centers, skill development, and enterprise-related infrastructure.
