PATNA, Sept. 16 -- The VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin) Act, which provides employment to rural unskilled workers, was implemented nationwide on July 1 after replacing the MGNREGA. However, its implementation in Bihar has got off to a slow start, with expenditure standing at around Rs.255 crore, far below the budgetary allocation of Rs.11,200 crore for the nine-month period ending March 2027. The number of mandays created from July to first week of September stands at around 1 crore whereas in the corresponding period last year, the mandays were around 1.25 crore indicating the slower work allotment to job card holders who have transitioned from the old scheme to the new scheme under which unskilled rural workers are entitled for 125 days of work annually. More importantly, from April to June 2026, around Rs. 3,000 crore were spent under MGNREGS but it would not reflect in the new scheme as the accounts of MGNREGS is separate, RDD officials said. The main factors for the slow start of work allotment under the V B G RAM G scheme is attributed to the initial official hitches in the transition from the old scheme and also the provision of lean period in the scheme, which entails that work would be stopped in certain period during the sowing and harvesting season in every crop cycle. " The work allotments has been on the lower side in July and August as there were lean period when work was stopped while there are also certain hitches in the transition from the old scheme to the new scheme. But work is going to pick up soon," said a senior official in the rural development department (RDD). Incidentally, the RDD officials highlighted that the expenditure of Rs.11,200 crore as per the budgetary provision made under the scheme from July 2026 to March 2027 is a tall order though efforts were being made to increase the work allotment by expanding the works to be done under the new scheme by eligible rural households. There are total around 2,29 crore job card holders in the state of of which 87 lakh are active job card holders . Sources said the work allocation would be intensified as new works for repair and construction of sheds, kitchens in schools, anganwadi kendras and community centres in the block level has been included under the new scheme, which would be kicked off from mid September. "The ambit of the works under V B G RAM G would be expanded and it would give a fillip to work allocations to job card holders," said another RDD offiical. Meanwhile, addiitional chief secretary(ACS) , RDD H R Srinivasa said the department was already focussed on increasing the mandays and the expenditure of budgetary provisions would be made by end of this fiscal year. " The lean period when work is stopped in many districts based on the sowing season was there till mid August, which had led to lower work allotments. We are completely focussed on increasing the mandays and would spend the budgettary provisions by giving employment to all eligible job card holders ," said the ACS, RDD. On the other hand, the state cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal for new rules to guide the VBG RAM G act for redrerssal of any dispute, complaints regarding the implementation of the new job scheme for rural unskilled workers. The cabinet note said the new rules of the VB G RAM G would act as a structural framework for redressal of any problem related to work allocation at the rural level under the scheme in a time bound and speedy manner. The rules would also safeguard the rights of the workers and help in better implementation of the scheme in Bihar, which came into effect from July 1st....