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Centre links VB-G RAM G funds to water mission
The Indian Express··28 Aug
Two Central secretaries have asked states to use VB-G RAM G funds for water source sustainability under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. Ashok K.K. Meena and Rohit Kansal wrote to states seeking integrated planning between the two schemes. The VB-G RAM G Act, effective from July 1, replaced MGNREGA and names water security one of four focus areas.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Rural households could see faster drinking water source repairs and groundwater recharge work if states pool VB-G RAM G and Jal Jeevan Mission funds as directed.
- Villagers can track whether local water projects are registered by checking the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack once geo-tagging is complete.
- Panchayats now have a joint directive covering water budgeting and local resource assessment, which could speed up approvals for pending water works.
What's Happening
- The joint letter from the drinking water and rural development secretaries asks states to fold sanitation and greywater works into Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans.
- It directs priority for groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, check dams and spring shed management, especially in water-stressed areas.
- The secretaries said Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and the VB-G RAM G Act share complementary goals on water security and rural livelihoods.
How We Got Here
- The VB-G RAM G Act, in effect since July 1, 2026, replaced MGNREGA with a statutory framework for community-led rural asset creation.
- It identifies four thematic focus areas, with water security among them, tied to climate resilience and agricultural productivity.
- Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 already prioritises drinking water source sustainability and groundwater recharge as core strategy elements.
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