Employment Generation and Asset Creation through MGNREGA in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

NREGA, enacted in 2005, forms the basis of a massive employment guarantee scheme, implemented throughout India, with two main objectives – to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural areas, and to boost the rural economy. Ever since its implementation across the country (2008-09 to 2015-16), on an average Rs.40, 000 crore per financial year has been invested under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. In conformity with the National Act, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing this Act since January 2006 and made considerable progress in fulfilling the programme objectives. The present study attempts to capture to what extent the employment was generated and durable assets are created during the last ten years of implementation of MGNREGS in Andhra Pradesh State. The study is based on secondary data such as official records of Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, Journals, magazines etc. It reveals that the performance of Andhra Pradesh in terms of providing employment and generating person days to rural households particularly Women, SC and ST is significant and it could be able to provide 100 days of employment to only 5.5 per cent of the participatory households. Further, the state Govt. has created substantial number of assets during this one decade of implementation in different categories. However, it was observed that the rate of completion of works is very poor and it is gradually decreased over the years of implementation.Key words: MGNREGA, Employment, Asset creation, Livelihood Security, Rural Economy