Shopian, July 2: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Wednesday said the success of government flagship programmes depends on the dedication, efficiency and commitment of grassroots officials who translate policies into tangible development on the ground.

He was speaking at the State-Level Sammelan-cum-Launch of Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAM G), organised by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Shopian. The event coincided with the nationwide virtual launch of the programme by Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The programme was attended by Secretary, Rural Development Department, Mohammad Aijaz Asad; Director, Rural Development Department Jammu, Shahnaz Akhter; Additional Secretary-cum-Incharge, J&K VB-GRAM G, Wasim Raja; senior officers, field functionaries and beneficiaries.
Highlighting the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Minister said the scheme has significantly strengthened rural livelihoods by generating sustainable employment, creating durable community assets and improving the socio-economic conditions of villages across Jammu and Kashmir.
He described the launch of VB-GRAM G as a major step towards making rural employment more productive, sustainable and aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Referring to the developmental journey of Jammu and Kashmir, Dar said the Rural Development Department has played a crucial role in improving rural infrastructure despite challenging circumstances. He credited the progress to the commitment of officers and field staff working at the grassroots.
The Minister noted that Block Development Officers and field functionaries serve as the first point of contact for rural communities and stressed the need to address public concerns with sensitivity, efficiency and accountability.
He said the employment guarantee framework has now been reoriented under the Viksit Bharat–Gramin Rozgar initiative with greater emphasis on sustainable livelihoods, natural resource management and durable asset creation. Jammu and Kashmir, he added, actively participated in framing the new guidelines, with several of its recommendations accepted by the Union Government.
Dar assured that ongoing developmental works would continue without interruption and said the issue of pending liabilities from previous years has already been taken up with the Union Government for resolution.
He also highlighted that the new framework allows Union Territories to decide a two-month implementation window based on local climatic and agricultural conditions. In Jammu and Kashmir, employment planning will be synchronised with farming seasons to maximise livelihood opportunities without affecting agricultural activities.
The Minister said the revised framework offers significant opportunities for water conservation, land development, natural resource management and creation of durable public assets. He also appreciated the department's progress in e-KYC, administrative reforms and scheme implementation.
Earlier, Secretary Rural Development Mohammad Aijaz Asad described the launch of VB-GRAM G as the beginning of a new phase in rural employment and development, saying MGNREGA has emerged as one of the country's most impactful rural development programmes.
Additional Secretary-cum-Incharge Wasim Raja presented the department's achievements over the past two years, stating that nearly 4.12 crore person-days of employment have been generated under MGNREGA, benefiting around eight lakh households, with women accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the beneficiaries.
He said nearly Rs 1,300 crore has been spent under the programme, including around Rs 900 crore directly transferred to workers as wages. About 16.69 lakh developmental works have been taken up across Jammu and Kashmir, with a substantial number already completed and several others currently under execution.