In our framework, a rights-based, gender-equity focused employment scheme based on constitutional and legal foundations incorporating other rights - such as the right to food, decent working conditions, and a fair and equitable wage - will fall in the intersection of the state, community and individual domains, the ‘sweet spot’ for social protection. However, one unequivocal finding is that the rights-based approach transforms citizens, especially women, into agents of change by giving them a greater voice in decision-making and empowering them to challenge power structures beyond the confines of the scheme. This is a huge step forward in a region where gender inequities and violation of rights is a systemic problem (Nayak and Khera 2009; Sudarshan 2011). As noted above, the development indicators in parts of South Asia are the lowest in the world.