A need has been felt to overhaul the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Why? The objective is to strengthen accountability, infrastructure outcomes and income security, and align rural employment with the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
It was two decades ago that MGNREGA was launched as a programme to enhance livelihood security by assuring a minimum of 100 days of guaranteed wage employment annually to rural households willing to perform unskilled manual work.
Since 2005, MGNREGA has provided wage employment, ensured stable income for many rural households and helped create basic infrastructure. However, time has flown and India’s rural areas have undergone significant evolution. With connectivity improving, opportunities of employment have gone up, incomes have grown and there has been commendable digital penetration. As a result, livelihood needs have also changed in rural India.
The Government of India has, therefore, put forward the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, called Viksit Bharat- G RAM G Bill, 2025 in short. The Bill suggests a sort of makeover for MGNREGA, so that there is more accountability and security of income, in addition to infrastructure outcomes.
It has reportedly been discovered that not many households succeeded in getting 100 days of employment in the post-pandemic time period. It was found that despite improved systems of delivery, MGNREGA had probably suffered from gaps in implementation.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Bill aims to fill these gaps and make the implementation stronger. As part of its efforts, the budget for administrative spend will have a limit of nine per cent instead of the previous six. That means, there will be provisions for more staff, better pay, appropriate training, as well as technical capacity. The programme will be managed with professionalism, with more focus on people-centricity, and an adequate support system.