Shillong,Jan 5: Amid criticism, the state BJP has welcomed the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin (VB-GRAM -G) Act 2025, calling it a historic milestone that will transform the lives of rural citizens across the state by empowering villages and strengthening Meghalaya.
State general secretary of the BJP Wankitbok Pohshna told reporters that the VB-GRAM-G Act 2025 is designed to empower Village Councils with greater decision-making authority. It will boost Infrastructure through rural roads, clean water, renewable energy, and digital connectivity and support farmers with modern techniques, credit access, and stronger market linkages. It will not only create jobs via skill development and entrepreneurship programs for rural youth but also promote inclusivity by ensuring women, marginalized groups, and indigenous communities benefit equally, he said.
This Act is not just legislation it is a promise of prosperity for every village in Meghalaya. It bridges tradition with modern governance, ensuring that rural communities thrive while preserving their cultural identity, the BJP leader said.
The BJP Meghalaya Pradesh refuted the claims by the Congress party that the Act will snatch away rural jobs or undermine traditional institutions or centralise power. The Act safeguards traditional village bodies while enhancing their capacity, he said
Governance will be decentralized by empowering villages to plan and execute projects independently. Congress’s narrative is misleading and aimed at obstructing progress. Congress is attempting to confuse the people of Meghalaya with baseless propaganda. The truth is clear VB-GRAM-G Act 2025 is of the people, for the people, by the people and will ensure that every village becomes a hub of growth and opportunity.
A cursory glance at this act shows that through this the Govt. of the day has corrected many structural and implementation flaws of previous such acts. This Act enhances the statutory guarantee from 100 to 125 days of unskilled wage employment per rural household per year, recognising the increased livelihood needs of
contemporary rural households. At the same time the Act has inbuilt mechasims to balance farmer and labour interests which has been a longstanding demand of the agricultural sector. Under this Act, all permissible works are organised into four clearly defined verticals – work for water security, improved core rural and livelihood related infrastructure, along with work aimed at mitigating extreme weather events and disaster preparednes.
This ensures that employment directly contributes to long-term rural productivity and resilience. The Act also guarantees timely wage payment, fixation of responsibility, funding and fiscal discipline, better governance while weaving in accountability and transparency. Most importantly, the Act promises to remove corruption and mismanagement, which have always been the hallmark of any such Act introduced by the Congress, he added.
The VB-GRAM-G Act, 2025 is not merely a replacement of an earlier scheme but a redefinition of rural employment policy in India and Meghalaya. By embedding transparency, development planning, fiscal responsibility, and farmer sensitivity into law, it restores trust in public employment programmes and positions rural Meghalaya as an active partner in the journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047, Pohshna added.
The BJP also wanted fencing along the India‑Bangladesh frontier.
“Fencing along the international border with Bangladesh is very important. We are very concerned about our borders with Bangladesh and we hope speedy completion of the border fencing and people understand that fencing is very important,” he said.
He pointed out that the Centre had taken the issue seriously only after the BJP assumed power at the national level.
“It is only after the BJP took over the government at the Centre that the border fencing is being taken on a serious note.”
Pohshna further noted progress on infrastructure in border areas and said, “If you look at the infrastructure development in border areas, it has been strengthened after the BJP government took over. Work is going on and we expect border fencing will be completed with the passage of time.”
The BJP leader also condemned the recent social‑media threats emanating from Bangladesh, calling them “unacceptable” and emphasizing that the party remains vigilant.
“We have seen the threats through social media and we cannot accept that because of the threats by those people who are opposing the system in Bangladesh, we should not take part. Yes, we are vigilant.”
He added that the notion of a threat to the “seven sisters” is laughable, noting that the North East is an integral part of India and enjoys firm security.
“The threat that seven sisters, is something which makes us want to laugh because we are in a country which provides firm security and that North East is an integral part of India, so there will be no one who can change that.”
Pohshna also highlighted the volatile situation in Bangladesh, stating: “Those threats, what to say – situation in Bangladesh is very volatile as there is no government. I am sure the Central government is taking note of all these.”
