SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Tuesday reviewed the implementation of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] and directed officials to intensify efforts to boost person-days generation, activate worksites and ensure timely wage payments across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a review meeting here, Asad emphasised the need for a mission-mode approach to strengthen grassroots implementation of the employment programme. He directed Executive Engineers to process wage-component bills without delay and ensure that material payments are cleared alongside wage payments.
The Secretary asked officials to expedite the initiation of works in all eligible panchayats and stressed that employment generation must remain the primary focus of the scheme.
Holding Assistant Commissioners Development (ACDs) accountable for implementation at the block level, Asad said districts with proactive field leadership were performing better, while some others were lagging behind. He directed ACDs to take ownership of field-level execution and address supervisory gaps promptly.
The meeting also reviewed the e-KYC status of semi-skilled and skilled workers. Asad directed officials to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe, noting that their payments would now be routed through the wage component.
He informed the meeting that the Ministry of Rural Development was expected to issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) shortly regarding the proposed reclassification of semi-skilled and skilled workers from the material component to the wage component and asked field officials to ensure smooth implementation of the transition.
Reviewing wage-payment performance, the Secretary directed district authorities to expedite the generation of Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) to ensure timely payment of wages.
Asad also stressed the importance of Panch Sammelans for strengthening grassroots participation and directed officials to document proceedings and ensure follow-up action on issues raised during the meetings.
Calling for improved monitoring, he directed ACDs to undertake regular field visits, enhance the quality of inspections and complete geo-tagging and e-KYC targets within the prescribed timelines.
The Secretary also underscored the need for administrative discipline, directing officers to conduct random attendance checks and ensure that employees do not leave their place of duty without prior permission.
He called upon officers and field functionaries to strengthen field-level supervision and work with renewed commitment so that the benefits of VB-G RAM G reach rural communities across the Union Territory.
