LibTech India

In AP, our study finds that digital cash transfer systems are failing Adivasi households—excluding the poorest through tech barriers and administrative opacity. Without accountability, digital welfare risks reinforcing the very inequalities it aims to solve.

Correct documentation of land titles forms the foundation of all land related entitlements. To investigate this matter, LibTech visited Vanjari Gram Panchayat, ITDA Paderu of Andhra Pradesh and thoroughly verified details in the pattas of farmers. The pattas were then cross verified with other essential documents such as Aadhaar. We observed cases of incorrect mobile numbers and addresses in the pattas. The questions we ask are- Are farmers aware of the process of rectifying the details? What is the level of exclusion created by these errors? We found that farmers were unaware of the next steps to be taken. Consequently, such errors may exclude them from Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, an input support scheme for farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Errors such as incorrect land extent, name mismatch with Aadhaar or wrong mobile number may cause exclusions or challenges in accessing the scheme. Incorrect documentation does not just remain a bureaucratic aberration, but becomes part of systemic failures. Such errors may exclude beneficiaries from accessing schemes. LibTech continues to document such failures on the ground as part of its advocacy efforts to bring systemic changes.

What happens when digital networks fail? Vanthala Bhaskar and Jartha Matyakondababu discuss the intervention of S R Sankaran Adivasi Sahaya Kendram--- a people-centric offline system that supplements. In ASR district, offline distribution of PDS and low network connectivity renders rightholders incapable of accessing vital information regarding their entitlements. The Kendram draws information from key registers--- food-grain prices, ration cards, and entitlements of approximately 2,500 households in the area every month--- and disseminates in the form of WhatsApp messages and printed notices in community spaces. Read the full story here buff.ly/CWJpsnG #DigitalDivide #PDS #Righttofood

LibTech team facilitated a 3-day workshop with Adivasi youth from tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh. The workshop dealt with writing effective case studies and filing collective grievances around social security programs. These skills help grassroots workers and youth leaders build evidence around the implementation of government schemes. The sessions reiterated a strong rights-based perspective, and encouraged participants to take a 360 degree view on exclusions. Ways of building clear, constructive evidence-based case studies were explored. 35 participants joined us from Alluri Sitharama Raju, Srikakulam, and Parvathipuram Manyam districts.

LibTech India conducted a roundtable at the consultation on 'Strengthening Accountability Systems: Reflections, Innovations and Collective Action' held in National Law School of India University, Bangalore between Feb 14-15. Our roundtable addressed governance and technology design failures in Aadhaar and our speakers shared their research into the different aspects of Aadhaar and their personal experiences with the technology. Our speakers were- K. Prabhavati, community member from Srikakulam @kishore_bds , LibTech India @KhanAysha5 , Right to Food Campaign @SarkarDevahuti , LibTech India @sabirahamedgd , Pratichi Trust John Simte, Lawyer and Legal Researcher

LibTech India, as a co-organiser, is conducting a roundtable on Aadhaar followed by a workshop on 'Strengthening Accountability Systems: Reflections, Innovations and Collective Action" at NLSIU, Bangalore on 15th February. Registration link forms.gle/KNgPvkipknFvft…

Sameet & Chakradhar in The Wire: new labour policy frameworks risk prioritising labour availability over income security and workers’ negotiating power — a shift that could weaken rural labour rights. Read → thewire.in/labour/how-vb-… #LabourRights #MGNREGA #PolicyJustice

Replacing MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat mission signals a shift from demand-driven entitlement to discretionary social protection with fiscal caps, reconfiguring state-worker relations and risking greater exclusion @RahulSwaero3 Chakradhar B @LibtechIndia theindiaforum.in/public-policy/…

LibTech's recent winter retreat near Araku Valley was a hub of conversations on AI, digitization, Aadhaar, and future strategies. The team relished evenings filled with music and laughter by the bonfire, coming back energized and brimming with fresh ideas. ✨

This article by @SameetPanda highlights the implications of transitioning from #MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G in #Odisha. He examines the claims of the State against rights, law, and Odisha's fiscal realities. Read the article here 👉 buff.ly/7TC9qlu #VBGRAMG #RightToWork

Lakhs of #farmers are being cut off from their PM-KISAN payments because of #eKYC failure. BDS Kishore and @samalochana write about inadequate institutional support and systemic technological hurdles that are significantly limiting access to welfare. 👉 tinyurl.com/ms6r7dts

@PMOIndia @MoRD_GoI @ChouhanShivraj @NREGA_Sangharsh @PTI_News @the_hindu @IndianExpress @thewire_in @DeccanHerald @DeccanChronicle @timesofindia @thenewsminute @ThePrintIndia @htTweets @PemmasaniOnX @rajendran_naray @samalochana @SameetPanda @IndiaToday @TheHansIndiaWeb @ncbn

Here is LibTech India’s statement on replacing MGNREGA with VB-GRAMG. With 15 years of engagement, LibTech believes any reform must strengthen MGNREGA’s rights-based, demand-driven design — not weaken transparency, local accountability or worker access. 1drv.ms/w/c/85541c8139…

LibTech’s work spans research, advocacy, education, and training. We participated as faculty in workshop “Perspectives and Capacities for Community Action on MGNREGA” at Azim Premji University, speaking on digitisation and understanding the #MGNREGA MIS with CSOs from Karnataka.

Exclusion by Design EPW quotes LibTech India's report in their editorial on the digitisation of MGNREGS- "68.8% (17.9 crore workers) and 46.9% (5.3 crore workers) of all workers and active workers in the country, respectively, have not completed e-KYC." epw.in/journal/editor…

As VB- G RAM G replaces MGNREGA, our team member @SameetPanda analyses the implications of moving from a demand-driven right to a budget-managed program. Read the full article here 👉 indiaverve.com/nation/mgnrega…

This article by @tabassum_b quotes our team member @KuruvaKvs sharing his concerns with the replacement of MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G- the loss of right to work, increased migration. @Chakri flags the arbitrary nature of a budget based scheme. Read here👉 scroll.in/article/108932…

In The Wire, LibTech team members unpack how Aadhaar e-KYC has silently reduced participation in #MGNREGA by creating new access barriers for rural workers. Read: thewire.in/rights/the-aad…

LibTech India shared data insights highlighting the #MGNREGA performance of the geography where Sahayog NGO works closely. This helped identify progress, gaps, and untapped potential from Apr 2023–March 2025. We continue to support implementation with timely, actionable data.

The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, proposed to replace MGNREGA, shifts rural employment from demand to administrative control. Find our detailed comparison of MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G Bill here 👉 shorturl.at/n800z

Our e-KYC report showed a net drop of 14 lakh workers in AP (10 Oct–19 Nov). After wide media coverage and public attention,1+ lakh workers were re-added (19 Nov–9 Dec). Evidence →attention →course correction. LibTech India continues inclusion-focused advocacy.