Ad Hoc Rationing, Capacity Bias, Information Asymmetry and Elite Capture of MGNREGA in Karnataka: Policy Perspectives on Poverty and Regional Balance

Abstract

Poverty is related to, yet distinct from, inequality. Inequality is unevenly distributed across social groups, geography, gender and age cohorts, resulting in regional imbalance across states and regions within states and causing concentration of poverty in certain social groups, gender and age cohorts. National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is a flagship poverty elimination programme, which should essentially address both poverty and inequality at both interpersonal and regional levels. But does a rights-based, demand-driven, universal workfare programme having self-selection paradigm address poverty and regional imbalance in practice? This question requires to be thoroughly examined to draw policy lessons.