Rural distress fuels VB G RAM G rush, attendance jumps nearly ninefold
Hyderabad : A sharp rise in demand for rural employment has propelled Telangana to record its highest-ever attendance under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), prompting the state govt to seek an increase in the guaranteed work limit from 100 days to 150 days. The surge was evident in Oct, when a record 2,54,812 workers turned up for work on a single day. Average daily attendance for the month also climbed dramatically to 2.16 lakh, compared with just 24,750 in Oct last year.
Panchayat raj and rural development minister D Anasuya Seethakka said the unprecedented demand underscored the need for expanding employment opportunities for rural households. She directed officials to ensure that all those seeking work are provided employment without delay.
Average daily attendance stood at 1.28 lakh in Oct 2021 before dropping to 80,000 in 2022. It recovered to 1.23 lakh in 2023 but fell sharply to 32,000 in 2024 and 24,750 in 2025. This year, attendance has soared to 2.16 lakh, with daily participation touching an all-time high of 2.54 lakh. To meet the growing demand, Anasuya instructed officials to issue new job cards to eligible applicants within 15 days and ensure prompt allocation of work. In July, Telangana recorded a 229.3% increase in person-days generated under the scheme, rising from 0.16 crore in July 2025 to 0.53 crore in July 2026, the highest growth among 19 major states. In absolute terms, person days increased from around 16 lakh to 53 lakh. The increase came even as VB RAM G person days at the national level declined by 49.1%, from 17.65 crore to 8.99 crore during the same period. Andhra Pradesh, by comparison, registered a 55.2% increase.
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The trend was visible even earlier this year.