Rural distress in Telangana is on the rise as eight lakh people seek work under the MGNREGS due to a drought-like situation. Learn more about the impact of dry conditions on rural livelihoods in Telangana.
The narrative of deepening rural distress is flawed and relies on misconstrued data about wage growth. Comparisons between different time periods fail to consider the context and statistical nuances. Nominal wage growth during the last two decades has been significant, with average wages more than doubling in the current regime. However, interpreting this data as a sign of rural prosperity overlooks important factors.
Wage data collected by the Centre for Labour Research and Action reveal a steady decline in real wages of brick-kiln workers in the last 10 years. Brick-kiln work is a fallback occupation for some of India’s poorest groups.