How effective was the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in mitigating income and job distress during the pandemic?

• by MSC
• Oct 6, 2021
• 1 min

This video provides strategic insights about the Indian government’s gender-focused relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and issues faced by women beneficiaries in using formal financial services.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown to curb put the lives and livelihoods of the migrant workforce, which represents 38% of India’s total population, in jeopardy. As a part of a series of relief measures under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the government of India provided employment opportunities to the distressed rural households through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

However, the surge in demand for work, payment delays, and issues in the program design posed challenges to its efficacy. MSC’s paper assess the success of the program in tackling the loss of income and livelihood and lists key challenges India faced in addressing the crisis.