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MGNREGS at 20: Successes, Challenges, and Wage Arrears

3/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Celebrating two decades of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), rural families in Tamil Nadu continue to benefit from 100 days of work each year. While the program empowers women and people with disabilities, it faces challenges like labor shortages and a staggering INR2,400 crore in wage arrears, raising alarms about payment delays and possible reforms.

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Story summary

Celebrating two decades of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), rural families in Tamil Nadu continue to benefit from 100 days of work each year. While the program empowers women and people with disabilities, it faces challenges like labor shortages and a staggering INR2,400 crore in wage arrears, raising alarms about payment delays and possible reforms.