India, Feb. 13 -- Department of Rural Development replies will look into the issue,state government's responsibility to pay interest accrued on unpaid allowances

If a labourer does not find work within 15 days of looking for work, he is entitled to unemployment benefits under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). However, statistics show that in the last five years, 7,124 workers were found to be eligible for unemployment benefits, but only 258 received them. That means that only about 3 per cent of the workers received unemployment benefits in the last five years.

The figures were revealed in a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. On February 8, 2024, the Mini...