Telangana reports surge in rural employment under VB-G RAM G programme
Conflicting figures in a recent report have created uncertainty regarding the highest single-day attendance recorded under the state's wage employment scheme.
The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department reported a rise in rural employment under the VB-G RAM G programme, according to Urban Acres. The department stated that 5,00,166 persons were provided employment on Tuesday, though a separate figure in the same report cited 2,54,812 workers on October 8 as the peak single-day attendance since the programme started.
The department attributed the increased demand for work to drought conditions connected to the El Nino weather system. Average daily attendance in October this year reached 2.16 lakh, compared to 24,750 in October last year. In previous years, average daily attendance was 1.28 lakh in 2021, 80,000 in 2022, 1.23 lakh in 2023, and 32,000 in 2024.
Nalgonda recorded the highest district-level employment with 53,280 persons. Other high-employment districts included Medak with 27,296, Siddipet with 23,845, Vikarabad with 23,731, Sangareddy with 22,222, Kamareddy with 21,178, Jagtial with 18,918, and Nirmal with 18,300.
Minister Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya congratulated officials on the employment increase and directed them to maintain these levels. She said wage employment should be connected to village water resources, water conservation, and the building of durable rural infrastructure.
The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which replaced MGNREGA, guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year. The minister instructed officials to identify works based on individual village needs to ensure continuous employment for labourers.