New Delhi, Dec. 25 -- Last week, Parliament repealed the two-decade old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act.

This Act, which replaces MGNREGA, effects not just a change in nomenclature but a fundamental shift in India's approach to the provision of public employment as a means of livelihood security.

Public employment schemes have long been part of livelihood security and poverty alleviation initiatives; a form of job guarantee has existed in Maharashtra since the 1970s.

What made MGNREGA different was its rights-based approach that was justiciable and unconditional for every rural household. It was far from a f...