Impact of National Rural Livelihood Mission on Livelihood Security of Rural Poor - A Propensity Score Matching Approach

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the effect of participation in National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) on the livelihood security of rural poor. Data are collected from 220 respondents (including both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries) through a structured questionnaire from Sonepur district of Odisha (India). A livelihood security index (LSI) is constructed to capture the livelihood security of the respondents taking habitat security, health security, food security, and economic security into account. Impact of the programme is estimated through propensity score matching (PSM) method. The study finds a positive and significant effect of participation in the programme on livelihood security.