New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- Even as a two-decade-old welfare employment scheme is set to be replaced by a new one, the upcoming Union budget may carve out separate allocations for both schemes to ensure there are no gaps in jobs during the transition period, according to the minister in charge of rural development.

The new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) scheme, to be notified by the Centre, will give states six months' transition time. During this interim phase, the outgoing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme will continue to operate as usual, necessitating a separate budgetary allocation, according to rural development and agriculture and farmers' welfare minist...