Public works have a long history in India as a response to famine and destitution, predating modern policy terms. Rulers historically provided work, not charity, to sustain livelihoods during crises. The construction of Lucknow's Bara Imambara in the 1780s exemplifies this, employing thousands during a famine. This principle evolved through colonial relief works and was later codified in independent India, notably in Maharashtra's Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), which influenced the national Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).