-The Indian Express Congress manifesto should have promised better implementation of MGNREGA instead of another scheme In its previous ruling stint in New Delhi, the Congress’s flagship social welfare programme was MGNREGA, which provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. For its next shot at power, the grand old party is promising to implement a...

-PTI The Election Commission of India on Friday expressed “displeasure” over NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar’s remarks against the Congress’ proposed minimum income scheme ‘NYAY’ and said the comments violated the model code of conduct norms. In a communication sent to Mr. Kumar, the EC asked him to be cautious in future while making statements. The EC asserted that the public servants should not only be impartial in their conduct but also in...

-The Hindu Governments can provide direct cash transfers while creating conditions for employment With the Congress promising through the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme ?6,000 every month to the poorest 20% of households if voted to power, Mahendra Dev and Pronab Sen talk of the importance and problems of direct cash transfers. Providing social protection is important even as governments try to create conditions for income-generating activities, they say in a discussion...

-The Indian Express It is best read as a political promise for social security. There is more than one way of redeeming it Guaranteed minimum income is a powerful idea that has already made some headway in various countries. Some European countries, for instance, guarantee a minimum income to their citizens. This requires extensive data collection as well as an effective cadre of welfare officers and social workers tasked with enquiring...

-Livemint.com If and when Congress' Nyuntam Aay Yojana, or NYAY scheme, for Minimum Income Guarantee is implemented, it'll be the biggest basic income globally. Here's a snap analysis On 25 March, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced the Nyuntam Aay Yojana, or NYAY scheme. The plan is to give Rs.6,000 every month to the bottom 20% of the population of around 5 crore families or 25 crore individuals. Gandhi’s proposal is not that...