Mysuru: The 1.1 lakh job cardholders registered under the MNREGA scheme are in a state of uncertainty following the tussle between the state and Union govts after the transition of the scheme to VB-GRAM-G by Union govt. Even though Union govt assured that the old scheme would continue until the new one is implemented, job card holders are worried over their job security this year in Mysuru district.The Union govt has brought changes to Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes, which was introduced in 2005, which transformed rural India in creation of basic infrastructure and stabilised rural income. The scheme also focused on elimination of poverty and on prevention of people from rural areas migration to cities in search of jobs.However, the Centre has transitioned this scheme as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeeveeka Mission Gramin Bill 2025 (VB-GRAM-G), aiming to build strong India under Vision 2047 by ensuring income security of rural, ensuring 125 days of job guarantee scheme also focusing on infrastructure development, strengthening accountability of people in rural areas under this scheme.The Union govt, which announced to implement VB-GRAM-G from 2026-27 in all ZPs, held this implementation from April 2026 following general assembly elections, bypolls in several states.The implementation of VB-GRAM-G from MNREGA has left crores of job card holders, including 1.1 lakh active job card holders of Mysuru district, in confusion about the future job security. As the state govt has also not given its nod to implement the scheme this year even though the centre is ready to implement from next month, following the tussle between state and centre over the issue of implementation remaining unsolved has further left job card holders in state of uncertainty.Last year 2025-26, Mysuru ZP created 17.5 lakh man-days of work under MGNREGA scheme in all 256 gram panchayat limits of all the nine taluks of Mysuru district, provided jobs to all active 1.1 lakh job card holders among 3.3 lakh job card holders enrolled under the MGNREGA scheme in the district.About 150 days of work was given to these job card holders with a disbursement of Rs 375 daily wages for these workers. Zilla panchayat CEO S Ukesh Kumar said ZP has continued the pending works taken up under old MNREGA scheme this month as per the directions of the centre until new VB-GRAM-G comes into force. “As this scheme provided jobs of crores of workers in rural areas, prevented migration, eliminated poverty, strengthened rural infrastructure, state and centre should continue the scheme and provide jobs to job card holders in their interest, resolving all the bottlenecks for continuing transitioned scheme,” said Jagadeesh Surya, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha Mysuru district president.
