Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
4. Rural India has been witnessing slowdown, and one of the key factors contributing to it has been the fund crunch in the schemes addressing jobs in rural India. In such a scenario, discuss what way MGNREGA can prove to be an effective solution? (250 words)
Reference: Live Mint
Why this question:
The article highlights the fact that with rural distress deepening across India and private consumption growing anemically, calls for ramping up the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), are growing louder ahead of the upcoming budget.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the importance of ramping up the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) as a cure to the rising rural distress in the country.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe the current state of rural distress in the country.
Body:
Present first some data on key metrics such as wages, inflation, and consumption that indicate the present rural distress.
Explain the crunch in funds related to other schemes that aim at improvising the rural economy.
Explain the possible role that MGNREGA can play in fixing the issue.
Take hints from the article and discuss what can be the way ahead.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced and fair opinion.