PATNA, March 7 -- In a bid to channelise funds more smoothly to MGNREGA scheme (now VB-G RAM-G), the state government has got relaxation up to March 31 to follow the old system of payments and generating bills as there are still technical hitches in integration of the CFMS, PFMS (public financial management system) with the new e-kuber system of money transfer to beneficiaries, officials said. "We have got relaxation till March 31 to follow the old system of transferring money to beneficiaries under the old MGNREGA scheme as there are still some technical hitches in integration of the CFMS, PFMS system of state finance department with e-kuber system, which is a new system developed for 'Just in time' release of funds and provides money to beneficiaries and material components without much hassle through RBI," said a senior rural development department (RDD) official. Sources said RDD had also sought relaxation in time for payments of material component under the job guarranteee scheme so that expenses made under material costs could be done easily till the time there is intergration of the CFMS system with e-kuber system. RDD principal secretary Pankaj Kumar said the relaxation for use of funds through the old system of transfers under VB-G RAM-G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rojgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) had been given till March 31 and the department had also put a request for payments under material components to be done through old system of transfers till the financial system for funds earmarked for centrally sponsored schemes(CSS) in the state got integrated with e-kuber system. The relaxation in payments mode for material component under the rural job scheme for unskilled workers would allow the RDD to use around Rs.300 -400 crore meant for material cost payments. The fund already allocated to Bihar is still stuck up due to the hitches in integration of the CFMS, PFMS with e-kuber system for transfers of funds under CSS, officials said. Besides, RDD officials also said the revised target for the job scheme would be around 25 crore for this fiscal year 2025-26 as the state has generated around 21 crore mandays already. "We hope to generate around three to four crores of mandays under the job scheme by end of this fiscal.Till date, around 21 crore man days have been already generated under the VB-G-RAM-G scheme in Bihar, which is similar to achievements in last few years," said another RDD offiicial, engaged with implementation of the rural job guarantee scheme for unskilled workers. Meanwhile, sources said the ministry of rural development has called a meeting on March 17 to discuss the annual action plan of VB-G RAM-G mainly the target for creation of man days and other works ." The detailed guidelines of the VB- G- RAM- G would be also rolled out from April this year and works would be taken up accodingly. We have already started work on setting up of grameen hats under the VB-G RAM-G and other works would also be taken up," said the RDD principal secretary. Around 725 grameen haats would be set up across the state where farm, dairy , fisheries and other items would be sold....