Kolkata, August 26: The West Bengal government has directed all district magistrates to identify families of migrant workers in their respective districts to issue them ‘Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards’ (GRGC). These cards provide a legal guarantee of 125 days of wage employment each financial year for rural families, provided they are willing to engage in unskilled physical work.
The state’s Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department has sent a circular to all district magistrates, urging them to initiate and complete the identification process of migrant workers’ families as soon as possible.
An official from the Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department stated that the ‘Vikasit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G-RAM Ji) Act, 2025′ came into effect in West Bengal on July 1 this year. Under this act, adult members of rural families will be guaranteed a maximum of 125 days of work in a year, primarily aimed at those willing to undertake unskilled physical labor. The administration aims to create regular income opportunities for villagers, boost the local economy, and facilitate the return of migrant workers to their home state.
The official emphasized that the Panchayat Department’s guidelines prioritize the issues faced by migrant workers.
According to estimates from the state labor department, over 2.2 million migrant workers have been identified in the state so far. This list has already been submitted to the respective district administrations, and the actual situation of families will now be assessed based on that information.
The state government has advised district magistrates not to treat the identification of migrant workers’ families and the verification of their data as merely a routine process.
The state government has already received assurance of central assistance in this matter, and the state’s Rural Development Ministry has approved approximately ₹12.65 crore under the VB-G-RAM Ji Act scheme.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.