India, April 17 -- Millions of migrant workers returning to villages amid an LPG crisis are left without the MGNREGA safety net.

Analysis shows the scheme has effectively stalled during transition to the new VB-GRAMG Act.

With no central guidelines, local officials are refusing work applications and new worksites are not opening.

Wage payments worth thousands of crores remain pending.

The LPG gas crisis triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict has triggered millions of migrant workers to move from cities to villages. But unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, this time these workers have no safety net of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to support with employment.

The central government replaced the f...