<h1>Unions and rights groups say budget cuts, delays and tech exclusions cripple rural employment guarantee, violating statutory entitlements</h1> A coalition of unions and rights organisations warned the central government that budget cuts and administrative measures have crippled the rural employment guarantee scheme, alleging chronic underfunding, payment delays and worker drop-outs in breach of the scheme's statutory guarantees. The group contends allocations are far below recommended levels, wages in many states fall below statutory minimums, and biometric and app-based controls have produced exclusionary effects contrary to the Act's demand-driven design. It also criticized the prolonged suspension of the programme in one state and urged immediate release of pending funds, removal of interim budget caps, alignment of wages with statutory minima, and independent social audits and grievance redressal.