NO GUARANTEE OF RIGHT TO WORK

PRERNA FOR IAS

NO GUARANTEE OF RIGHT TO WORK

1. Right to Work

The Right to Work is the principle that every citizen should have access to employment opportunities that provide a dignified livelihood. In India, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 legally guarantees 100 days of wage employment each year to rural households willing to perform unskilled manual work. This guarantee empowers workers by providing income security and reducing distress migration during periods of unemployment. Critics argue that replacing MGNREGA with a demand-based programme without a legal guarantee may weaken workers' bargaining power and reduce accountability. Thus, the right to work remains a crucial pillar of social welfare and rural development.

2. End of MGNREGA and Introduction of V-B GRAM G 2025

The Government has proposed replacing MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (V-B GRAM G) 2025. While the new programme aims to improve rural employment through better planning and infrastructure development, critics argue that it removes the legally enforceable guarantee of employment. Under MGNREGA, eligible households could demand work and receive compensation if employment was not provided. The proposed scheme shifts towards administrative allocation of work, raising concerns that employment opportunities may become dependent on government decisions rather than legal rights. This transition has sparked debate among policymakers and labour organisations.

3. 125 Days of Employment

The proposed V-B GRAM G scheme increases employment opportunities from 100 days to 125 days annually. At first glance, this appears beneficial because workers may receive more employment. However, labour groups argue that the additional days have little value if employment is not legally guaranteed. Unlike MGNREGA, where workers could demand work as a legal entitlement, the new system depends on project approvals, funding availability, and administrative decisions. Therefore, workers fear they may not actually receive the promised 125 days. The debate highlights that employment security depends not only on the number of workdays but also on enforceable legal rights.

4. Split the Bill – 60:40 Funding Model