The regional-level event under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) was held on June 19 at LG Hall, CIHSR Hospital Campus, 4th Mile, Chumoukedima, in coordination with the national programme organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India presided over the release of incentive benefits to eligible employees and employers under the Scheme.
The programme was attended by Robert Longchari, Commissioner & Secretary, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Nagaland, as Chief Guest; Avile Vitso, Labour Commissioner, Government of Nagaland, as Guest of Honour and Samuel Das, Regional PF Commissioner-II, EPFO Special State Office, Dimapur, along with employers, employees, PM-VBRY benificiaries and other stakeholders.
During the programme, participants joined the live telecast of the national event from New Delhi. Employers also ceremonially handed over appointment letters to newly recruited employees, symbolising the Scheme’s role in promoting formal employment and expanding social security coverage.
Addressing the gathering, Robert Longchar highlighted the importance of the Scheme in creating employment opportunities for the youth and strengthening the formal workforce. He observed that government employment alone cannot absorb the growing number of educated and skilled youth entering the job market every year and stressed the need for greater participation of the private sector in employment generation.
Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, he said that young professionals have a crucial role in contributing to the economic development of both Nagaland and the country. He encouraged employers and employees to take full advantage of the Scheme and spread awareness about its benefits among others.
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The Commissioner & Secretary also underlined the growing importance of skill development and specialization in a rapidly changing economy driven by technological advancement and innovation. He noted that formal employment offers long-term benefits, including social security, provident fund, pension and insurance coverage, while providing greater economic stability for workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Avile Vitso, Labour Commissioner, encouraged employers to continue creating employment opportunities for young people and urged employees to remain committed to their jobs in order to fully avail the benefits provided under the Scheme.
She called upon employers, workers and beneficiaries to act as ambassadors of PM-VBRY by creating greater awareness among eligible establishments and youth across the State.
She noted that the Scheme provides benefits to both employers and employees and serves as an important instrument for employment generation and workforce formalisation. She further expressed confidence that wider participation would help more young people secure meaningful employment opportunities while strengthening social security coverage.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Samuel Das, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-II, EPFO Special State Office, Dimapur, said that PM-VBRY is a landmark initiative of the Government of India aimed at encouraging formal employment and supporting both employers and employees. He highlighted that the Scheme provides financial incentives to first-time employees and establishments creating additional jobs, thereby contributing to economic growth and social security expansion.
Das stated that PM-VBRY forms part of a nationwide effort to strengthen employment generation and social security coverage across the country. He expressed confidence that the programme would further enhance awareness and encourage greater participation by employers and employees in the Scheme.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, John Mark Rengma, an employee of I-Watch Security & Allied Services, shared his experience of obtaining his first formal employment after the launch of PM-VBRY. He said the Scheme had enabled him not only to secure employment but also to become part of the social security system through EPF membership. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for introducing the initiative and thanked his employer for providing him with an opportunity to build his career and support his family.
Representing employers, Dr Bendangtoshi Jamir of CIHSR highlighted the positive impact of the Scheme on institutions creating employment opportunities. He informed that since the launch of PM-VBRY in August 2025, CIHSR had recruited 73 new employees, contributing to employment generation in the State. He noted that the incentives available under the Scheme provide encouragement for institutions to expand their workforce while strengthening formal employment and social security coverage.
Launched on August 15, 2025, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) aims to promote employment generation, enhance employability and expand social security coverage across all sectors of the economy, with special emphasis on the manufacturing sector.
Under Part A of the Scheme, first-time employees are entitled to receive one month’s wages up to Rs 15,000 as a one-time incentive. Under Part B, employers are provided incentives of up to Rs 3,000 per month per additional employee for a period of two years, with an extended incentive period for the manufacturing sector.
With a total outlay of Rs 99,446 crore, PM-VBRY is expected to facilitate the creation of more than 3.5 crore jobs across the country over a period of two years, including approximately 1.92 crore first-time entrants into the formal workforce. The Scheme covers employment generated between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2027.
