Chandigarh, July 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Government on Tuesday announced the resolution of long-pending demands raised by the MGNREGA/VB GRAM G Employees’ Union, paving the way for the statewide implementation of the VB GRAM G initiative from July 30 and bringing an end to the employees’ nearly two-month-long strike.
The breakthrough was achieved during a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema with representatives of the employees’ union. Senior officials of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department also participated in the discussions.
According to the government, the meeting concluded a series of negotiations held over the past several weeks. Issues relating to service conditions, contractual tenure, migration to the VB GRAM G framework, remuneration and other administrative matters were discussed, with the government agreeing to accept the union’s genuine demands. Around 2,000 MGNREGA/VB GRAM G employees across Punjab are expected to benefit from the decisions.
Addressing the meeting, Cheema said the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, remains committed to protecting the interests of employees while ensuring efficient delivery of public services.
He said the government believes in resolving genuine issues through dialogue, consultation and consensus, adding that the agreement would not only address employee concerns but also facilitate the smooth implementation of the VB GRAM G programme across the state.
Representatives of the MGNREGA/VB GRAM G Employees’ Union welcomed the outcome of the talks and thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond for resolving their long-pending issues.
The union also announced the immediate withdrawal of its strike and assured the government of its full cooperation in implementing rural development programmes.
With employees set to resume duties, the Rural Development and Panchayats Department said the VB GRAM G initiative would now be implemented across villages throughout Punjab. The programme is expected to support timely wage employment for rural households, accelerate the creation of durable community assets and strengthen rural infrastructure and governance.
The department expressed confidence that the smooth rollout of the initiative, backed by the cooperation of employees, would contribute to improved public service delivery and the state’s vision of inclusive and sustainable rural development.
Principal Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Development Commissioner Shena Aggarwal, Special Secretary Amit Talwar and representatives of the employees’ union were also present at the meeting.
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