The Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme turned out to be a great saviour in supporting livelihoods battered during the pandemic. Demand for jobs under the scheme continues to remain above the pre-lockdown levels even after a complete removal of restrictions on movement. Given India’s dismal record in creation of jobs, there is much merit in the scheme.
Economists have recommended an equivalent urban employment guarantee scheme. Some state governments have heeded this suggestion. The government of Rajasthan announced the Indira Gandhi Shehri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana on September 9, 2022. The scheme offers 100 days of employment in a year
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