Poverty, destitution, unemployment, and inequality have remained significant causes of social injustice across the globe in general and in developing countries in particular. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a “stellar example of rural development” through employment generation and vulnerability reduction. The present study attempted to assess the impact of a right-based employment generation programme on the employment and income of the rural poor in Haryana. This study is based upon field-level analysis, selecting 384 respondents through multi-stage sampling from four districts: Karnal, Hisar, Jhajjar, and Nuh of Haryana. The study used statistical tools such as the Standard of Living Index, Lorenz Curve, Gini Co-efficient, Difference-in-Differences Method and tabular analysis to elaborate upon the study's objectives. The study found that the scheme has helped in providing around thirty-nine employment days to a household in the selected districts in a period of four consecutive years from 2017-18 to 2020-21, which was higher than the state’s average employment days, thirty-five and relatively low than the national average of forty-nine employment days as per secondary data for the respective period.  The scheme enhanced income and upgraded the quality of life of some beneficiaries to a certain extent. The study results portrayed that the state of Haryana has been a moderate performer in terms of the socio-economic impact of the scheme and has a significant potential to be realised. Implementation lacunas must be altered immediately to utilise fiscal resources efficiently. Reducing staff shortages and enhancing transparency and accountability with the help of ICT, timely social audits, and stringent punitive actions in case of fudging will help achieve far-reaching development goals.