80 Million Workers Delisted from MGNREGS in 2 Years: Report
As many as 80 million registered workers have been delisted from the central government’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) over the past two years, according to a report by two civil society groups.
Why Majority of Indians Don’t Have Sufficient, Safe and Nutritious Food
Nearly 74% of Indians could not afford a healthy diet in 2021, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report. In late 2021 and early 2022, 80% of respondents in a survey conducted by the Right to Food Campaign reported facing food insecurity, with almost half having run out of food the previous month. So, why do the majority of Indians not have sufficient, safe, and nutritious food? In an interview with IndiaSpend, economist Reetika Khera explained some possible reasons.
Free Bus Ride in Karnataka Empowering Women and Uniting Families
In Karnataka, a free bus ride program for women is not only improving access to healthcare and enabling stronger family connections but also overcoming longstanding hurdles that have restricted women’s freedom to travel, according to a new study.
India’s Shift Away from Rights-Based Welfare State
India appears to be moving from a rights-based welfare model to one where welfare is presented as a benevolent gift from political leaders, with implications for the relationship between the state and its citizens, says Yamini Aiyar, a prominent public policy scholar and former President of the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, in an interview with the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) of the University of Pennsylvania.
Have Indians Been Eating Well?
A detailed analysis of the food and nutrition security situation in India over a decade has found discrepancies between government claims and actual outcomes. “Food Security and Nutrition 2014-24 Report Card” by the Financial Accountability Network India recalls that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always held that “universal food security” is integral to national security.
Should Governments Use Algorithms in Public Service Delivery?
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public service delivery promises efficiency and transparency, but the absence of policy frameworks governing its use can lead to grave injustices, particularly for the most vulnerable sections of society. In Telangana, an algorithm recently denied thousands of poor people access to food subsidies.
Nearly 18 Million Workers Can’t Seek Work Under MGNREGS
Over 17.8 million “active” workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) can no longer look for work due to the central government’s mandate for the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) for wage payments. The government asserts that workers were given ample time for compliance; however, civil society groups contend that the system is unreliable.