New job guarantee scheme aims to fix design gaps in MGNREGA: Report

India is preparing for a major reset of its rural employment framework, with the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAMG), a reworked version of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), aimed at fixing longstanding structural weaknesses while retaining the core promise of employment support, according to a report by SBI Research.

- Dhirendra Kumar & Vijay C. Roy

SBI Research argues that while budgetary support for MGNREGA has risen sharply, outcomes have lagged expectations.

(PT)

The redesign seeks to turn the scheme away from a purely demand-driven model towards one that places greater emphasis on productive asset creation, outcome-based planning, and accountability at the grassroots level, SBI Research said.

However, at least one expert warned that report was "overly optimistic" about the proposed redesign, and that straying from MGNREGA demand-driven model could lead to increased exclusion rather than better outcomes.