Several rights-based legislations such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) & the National Food Security Act (NFSA) were enacted between 2005 and 2013. After coming to power in 2014, the NDA government undermined and violated the provisions of many such legislations. However, it was precisely two vital rights-based legislations, the NFSA and the MGNREGA, that proved to be invaluable in saving the lives and livelihoods of millions in the country after the unilateral imposition of lockdowns in India. Moreover, introduction of some ill-thought out digital technologies have created more obstacles for the rights-holders to access the provisions of these Acts. We take an evidence-based approach & draw your attention to what NFSA and MGNREGA mandate and highlight the manner in which the provisions of the Acts have either been misrepresented or violated.

Directed by: Rajendran Narayanan

Links

- All the graphs shown in this video that were presented at a press conference in Ranchi on April 20, 2024 were made by the economists Jean Drèzeand Reetika Khera. The slides of the presentation with the graphs used here can be found here:   / 1781884255452242116  
- 10 cr excluded for NFSA by the Indiaspend team: https://www.indiaspend.com/more-than-...
- 2021 Independence Day speech by Narendra Modi:    • 75th Independence Day 2021: PM Modi u...  
- Modi government ignores red flags on fortified rice: By Shreegireesh Jalihal of The Reporters’ Collective https://www.reporters-collective.in/t...
- Netherlands firm influencing policy on fortified rice: by Shreegireesh Jalihal of The Reporters’ Collective https://www.reporters-collective.in/t...
- Graph on personal tax exceeding corporate tax: By Vignesh Radhakrishnan,Rebecca Rose Varghese,Rachita Rabboni https://www.thehindu.com/data/amid-de...
- Mid day meals renamed as PM Poshan by Prashant K. Nanda https://www.livemint.com/news/india/m...
- Egg map of India by Swati Narayan: https://scroll.in/article/983137/indi...
- PM Modi on retaining MGNREGA as a symbol of Congress’ failure:    • PM MODI: MNREGA Will Continue; Living...  
- Role of MGNREGA during Covid lockdown: By Sudha Narayanan, Christian Oldiges and Shree Saha https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/p...
- NREGA budget as a % of the GDP: By Apurva Gupta and Laavanya Tamang https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/e...
- 2024 Net zero gain in interim budget of NREGA: By Sobhana Nair https://www.thehindu.com/business/bud...
- 25 days of MGNREGA work with the current budget: People’s Action for Employment Guarantee calculations
- Analysis of delays in wage payments in MGNREGA: By Rajendran Narayanan, Sakina Dhorajiwala & Rajesh Golani https://link.springer.com/journal/410...
- Nirmala Devi on delays in MGNREGA wage payments:    • Why Are MGNREGA Workers Protesting Ag...  
- Akali Sarkar on delays in MGNREGA wage payments:    • Bruised Finger, No Internet: Why are ...  
- PIL on MGNREGA wage payment delays: Swaraj Abhiyan vs Union of India https://indiankanoon.org/doc/59849272/
- Sandeep on the status of MGNREGA in West Bengal    • Bruised Finger, No Internet: Why are ...  
- Sandeep on the NMMS app for attendance in MGNREGA    • Bruised Finger, No Internet: Why are ...  
- Urmila Devi on the NMMS app for attendance in MGNREGA :    • Why Are MGNREGA Workers Protesting Ag...  
- Job card deletions due to mandating Aadhaar: By Chakradhar Buddha and Laavanya Tamang https://www.epw.in/journal/2023/38/co...
- Job card deletions graph: http://libtech.in/
- Sabhil Nath Paikra on Aadhaar and MGNREGA:    • Why are NREGA Workers on a 100 Day Pr...  
- Tensions rise over caste-based payments in MGNREGA: By Priscilla Jebaraj https://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...
- ‘We have been betrayed’ by Urmila Devi    • Why Are MGNREGA Workers Protesting Ag...