Analysing performance of the MGNREGA scheme: A study of three Panchayats of Bijnor district (Uttar Pradesh)

Abstract

By providing 100 days of wage employment, the scheme provides an income supplement to rural poor households. The scheme provides work throughout the year, especially in the agriculture lean season. Various provisions of the MGNREGA scheme bring considerable changes in wage pattern in rural areas. The study investigates the MGNREGA scheme impact on rural employment and poverty alleviation in the Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh state. This study is predominantly based on the primary source of data collection from the selected respondents by using the Random sampling method. The finding of the study drowns in information from a field survey of 51 households that were actively working in the scheme in the district during 2018-19 and 2019-20. The research study covers aspects like awareness about the scheme, change in expenditure pattern after working under the scheme, the social condition of the respondents in a particular study region. The study also reveals that the annual expenditure of sample households is the same before working in the scheme and after working in the scheme. Only 31% of sample households have annual income above Rs. 40,000 (earn from both the primary source of income and MGNREGA) and annual expenditure were 33%, which is more than the annual income. From the total sample households, 82% of rural households have the government provide toilets (made under SBM).