PIB Kohima holds ‘Varta’ workshop on rural development

Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima, organised a one-day media workshop titled ‘Varta’, a discourse on VB-GRAMG, at Kohima Press Club on March 25. The programme brought together media professionals and academicians to deliberate on rural development initiatives.
Delivering the keynote address, head of the Department of Rural Development and Planning, Nagaland University, professor Jayanta Choudhury, highlighted the evolving landscape of rural development in the Northeast. He stated that rural development remains central to India’s growth trajectory, particularly in achieving long-term goals such as Viksit Bharat 2047 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Emphasising that poverty and hunger were largely concentrated in rural areas, professor Choudhury stressed the need for localised, grassroots-driven strategies. On VB-GRAMG, he said the scheme proposed increasing employment days from 100 to 125, while shifting from a rights-based Act to a more programme-oriented framework.
Reflecting on the performance of MGNREGA, he acknowledged its crucial role in ensuring livelihood security during the COVID-19 pandemic, while pointing out challenges such as transparency gaps, implementation issues and instances of malpractice in certain regions.
Looking ahead, professor Choudhury underscored the role of technology in strengthening rural welfare initiatives, noting that digital payments, biometric systems and GIS-based planning could enhance accountability and efficiency.
He further described the move towards a more holistic and convergent development model—integrating wage employment with agriculture, infrastructure and self-employment—as a progressive step.
Concluding, professor Choudhury said VB-GRAMG represented an optimistic approach that emphasised collaboration, coordination and continuous evaluation to reduce inequality and improve rural livelihoods.