Tried and Tested

Context: The recent experience with the pandemic and the lockdown suggests the older schemes like MGNREGA and PDS retain their utility and, indeed, remain essential.

Significance of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA):

• Upturn in employment: As a demand-based scheme, there is an increase in the person-days of work generated by 5 % from the initial target.

• The increased demand because of an economic shock in the areas and the reverse migration from the urban centers.

• Plays a bridging role: which is necessary for the development of real jobs.
• Government’s steps: 

• Increased allocation to cater to demand.
• Increased wages under the scheme by Rs 20 are the least expected given the rise in demand.

Significance of Public Distribution System (PDS):

• Crucial role in preventing hunger: across the affected area. 
• Holes in PDS: About 500 million Indians do not have cards under the National Food Security Act and not all of them are middle class.

Way Forward: 

• In MGNREGA: Move faster to settle the outstanding dues that are with the state governments. 
• In PDS: Must take actions on several fronts

• Longer sustenance of doubling of food rations amidst pandemic.
• Devising a form of temporary access to PDS in case universalization of benefits does not seem feasible.
• Provisioning of additional food grain for the sufferers of reverse migration.