Belonia workshop focuses on local ownership, asset creation under VB-G RAM G
Belonia, 10 August — Tripura's Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman on Monday inaugurated a district-level one-day Panchayat conference on the VB-G RAM G programme at the Old Town Hall in Belonia, emphasising the scheme's potential to strengthen the rural economy and support livelihoods.
Speaking at the event, Barman urged elected representatives to draw up plans tailored to local needs and to ensure not only the creation of community assets but also their long-term maintenance. He framed the initiative as offering wider opportunities for public development than earlier wage-based programmes and as an instrument to advance the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India.
"This initiative would strengthen the rural economy, enhance the skills of rural people, support livelihoods, and help create durable assets," Barman said.
Coordination and local planning underlined
The minister highlighted the importance of close coordination between public representatives and government functionaries for effective implementation. He told participants that well-conceived local plans, grounded in community needs, were central to ensuring that projects deliver lasting benefits.
Cooperation Minister Shukla Charan Noatia, addressing the gathering, underlined the role of cooperation among rural residents, government employees and democratically elected leaders in delivering early benefits from the programme. He said he expected VB-G RAM G to generate fresh employment opportunities in rural areas if implemented effectively.
District officials and Panchayat leaders attend
The conference was attended by a cross-section of local officials and Panchayat representatives. Additional District Magistrate (PP) Shanti Ranjan Chakma delivered the welcome address, while South Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Dipak Datta also spoke. Other attendees included social worker Dipayan Chowdhury and Sumit Majumdar, Principal of the Central Works Training Institute.
Also present were Tapan Debnath, Sahakari Sabhadhipati of the South Tripura Zilla Parishad, and representatives of Panchayats, Block Development Officers (BDOs) and concerned district officials, who participated in the workshop sessions.
What officials said and what to expect locally
Officials at the meeting emphasised three practical priorities for district implementation:
- Formulate local project plans reflecting community needs and priorities.
- Ensure creation of durable community assets and set up maintenance mechanisms.
- Strengthen coordination between elected representatives and administrative officers for timely delivery.
Speakers argued that when these elements are in place, benefits such as enhanced skills, improved livelihoods and local employment opportunities could be realised within a relatively short period.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Panchayat Minister | Kishor Barman |
| Cooperation Minister | Shukla Charan Noatia |
| Additional District Magistrate (PP) | Shanti Ranjan Chakma |
| South Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati | Dipak Datta |
Context and implications
State-level officials at the workshop compared VB-G RAM G with existing rural employment schemes and said the new initiative emphasises asset creation, skill development and livelihood support rather than short-term wage work alone. They portrayed it as complementary to broader national objectives of rural transformation.
For local Panchayats and BDOs, the conference provided a platform to understand programme mechanics and discuss practical challenges such as prioritisation of projects, technical training needs and systems for asset upkeep. The involvement of the Central Works Training Institute was noted as relevant for capacity building of the workforce engaged in implementation.
District authorities will be expected to translate the guidance from the conference into district-level action plans, lining up projects and mobilisation of resources, and setting mechanisms for monitoring and maintenance.
The Belonia meeting is part of district-level outreach to familiarise local representatives and officials with VB-G RAM G and to encourage participatory planning ahead of field-level rollout. Further meetings at other levels and continued coordination between departments were flagged as necessary to ensure the scheme achieves its stated objectives.
Representatives and officials who attended the one-day conference took part in workshop sessions designed to equip them for the next stages of planning and rollout within the South Tripura district.
