Centre’s scheme to strengthen rural economy, says minority panel chief Iqbal Singh Lalpura

Stating that the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Punjab’ begins from villages, National Commission for Minorities Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura on Friday said the Centre’s new employment guarantee scheme would significantly strengthen the rural economy.

Lalpura was addressing the media during his visit to Patiala. He was accompanied by former MP Preneet Kaur and state BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur.

He highlighted the Central Government’s ‘Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025’, under which labourers will receive ‘125 days of guaranteed employment’, along with an additional 60 days during lean and agricultural off-season periods.

Describing the initiative as more than just an employment guarantee, Lalpura said the scheme was an integrated support mechanism that would also enable beneficiaries to access multiple Central Government development programmes. “This is a decisive step towards strengthening rural infrastructure, enhancing livelihoods and ensuring sustainable development at the village level,” he said, adding that the initiative would accelerate Punjab’s overall development.

Lalpura alleged that people of Punjab had been repeatedly misled by the AAP government and the Congress. Referring to past surveys conducted in over 13,000 villages across the country, including 6,000 in Punjab, he claimed that labourers received an average of only 26 days of employment, exposing the failure of successive state administrations to ensure meaningful rural employment.

He stated that the new scheme would provide employment security as well as promote comprehensive rural development by strengthening village-level systems and generating livelihood opportunities through allied schemes. The mission, he said, was aimed at guaranteeing ‘rozgar’ and ‘ajeevika’ while fostering rural self-reliance.

Lalpura also strongly condemned a recent statement attributed to former Delhi CM Atishi Marlena, made during the commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, terming it deeply hurtful to Sikh sentiments.