UKHRUL: A media workshop ‘Vartalap’ on Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) for media persons of Thoubal, Chandel, Tengnoupal and Kakching districts was held on Wednesday at Kshetri Sanglem, Thoubal.
Organised by the Press Information Bureau, Regional Office Imphal, the workshop, attended by over 30 media persons from the mentioned districts, highlighted the importance and changes made in the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) and the role the media needs to play in reaching out to the farthest corners of the state.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Engam Pame, who attended the workshop as president, highlighted that the VB G RAM G aims to overhaul MGNREGA 2005, guaranteeing 125 days of rural employment and focusing on infrastructure, digital accountability, and asset creation to achieve Viksit Bharat goals by 2047.
He maintained that Vartalap is a part of the PIB’s continued outreach efforts to empower people by disseminating information. Acknowledging the important role of media persons, he urged them to play a key role in reaching the last mile and making India a healthy, progressive Nation.
Moirangthem Priyaroshni, MCS, Assistant Commissioner, Thoubal, who came in liu of the chief guest, stated that programmes with help many in getting acquainted with the new scheme. She expressed hope that the programme will play a crucial role in effectively disseminating key objectives of the scheme to the rural masses.
During the technical session, resource person Laiphrakpam Ramesh Singh, Executive Engineer/State Nodal Officer, State Level Monitoring Cell, Secretariat RD and PR Department elaborating on the scheme while highlighting the various features.
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He said that the new scheme is a response to the limitations of MGNREGA and that VB-GRAM G is expected to tackle overlapping schemes, fraud and misappropriation through improved planning, accountability, and transparency and incorporation of AI tools and digital mechanisms like PMGS-NMP.
He informed that starting from the new financial year, i.e. April, photos of the job card holders will be Adhaar-based. And with focus on circular economy, he further informed that payments will be made within 15 days from the last day of the working period.
If the payment is not made within those within days, the government will pay fine, he informed.
Khogendra Khomdram, President, Editors’ Guild Manipur, called on media persons to play their role well in spreading messages to the far corners of the state. He said the media has a big role to play in spreading awareness on such schemes.
He also lamented the role social media and the content creators were playing today especially considering the situation. He said they do not understand the grace consequences that their posts would cost. Only if they had not been too eager to post on social media platforms, the situation would have been better, he said.
An interaction session was also held where the media persons questioned and cleared their doubts on various issues related to the scheme.