An Exploratory Study on Recent Inclusive Approach under MGNREGSforUnderprivileged Women, Tribal Community & Smallholders Becoming Self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in Jharkhand State in India.

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MGNREGA enacted in 2005 as a social safety net based on right based framework to provide unskilled wages and employment to the needy households has gradually incorporated innovative schemes for creation of long-term durable assets to enhance the livelihoods of the participating households and making them self-reliant. This paper attempts to explore the impact of Horticulture initiative on small holders, underprivileged women & tribal households, which was initiated by Government of Jharkhand in 2016. The secondary data was accessed from the official website of MGNREGA for further analysis. A questionnaire-based interview of sampled beneficiaries of Horticulture Scheme from two Districts of South Chhotanagpur division of Jharkhand was administered for primary information. Case studies have been incorporated for creating support evidence for the study. The study reveals that the Horticulture Scheme under MGNREGA, “Birsa Munda Baagwani Yojana” (BMBY) has significant impact on the life of unskilled workers who became the beneficiaries of this scheme. Inclusion of scheduled tribe and schedule caste to this scheme is significant. It has accommodated the marginal landholding households to be the beneficiaries. Provision of associated training and support from NGOs, CBOs and administration have increased the coverage and inclusion of the marginal section and also ensured the technical assistance to most of the beneficiaries.