All Things Policy VB-GRAM-G And The Future Of Employment Guarantees
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Feb 16, 2026 Ameya Naik, a researcher on development policy and digital public finance, and Liby Johnson, Gram Vikas leader with decades in rural community development, discuss VB‑GRAM‑G replacing MNREGA. They explore technology’s impact on welfare, risks of centralization and demand suppression, practical fixes like visible muster rolls, and linking village planning to strengthen local accountability and natural resource work.
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NREGS As A New Social Compact
- NREGS created a new compact between state and citizen emphasizing dignity over charity.
- Liby Johnson argues the scheme's intent outpaced state capacity and devolved into a different, weaker implementation.
Act Versus Scheme Divergence
- The law (Act) and its practical rollout (scheme) diverged sharply in practice.
- Liby says citizens largely experienced MNREGS as the administratively simplified NREGS, not the robust statutory right.
Community Worksite Cooperation In Kerala
- Liby describes Kerala worksites where older and able-bodied workers pooled effort so everyone got paid.
- That community practice preserved dignity and demonstrated demand-led flexibility on the ground.
