Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Research Articles

Cellfare: Delivering Self-Targeted Social Protection Using Mobile Phones

This article proposes a new form of self-targeted social protection scheme: beneficiaries carry out a series of small tasks on their mobile phones, each linked to a small payment. Key advantages over traditional public works include potentially large reductions in leakage, costs, and delays. The proposed scheme may also be suitable to wider demographics as it does not require physical labour and can be availed from home. A prototype implementation of a ‘cellfare’ scheme was tested in rural India, and 42 participants with experience of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, a large Indian public works programme, favourably compared the proposed scheme to the existing one.

Estimating profile of the beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and relational analysis of MGNREGA beneficiaries with impact

Estimating profile of the beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and relational analysis of MGNREGA beneficiaries with impact

Impact of Mgnrega on Employment Generation in Karnataka

This study examines the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on employment generation in Karnataka. Using secondary data from official websites, the research highlights MGNREGA's significant role in providing wage employment and enhancing livelihood security for rural households. As of September 2024, over 80 lakh job cards have been issued, with a high employment fulfillment rate exceeding 98%. The program actively supports marginalized communities, with 18.15% of workers from Scheduled Castes and 10.71% from Scheduled Tribes. Overall, MGNREGA is a crucial mechanism for economic stability and poverty alleviation in rural Karnataka.

THE IMPACT OF MGNREGA ON TRIBAL POPULATION: A CASE STUDY OF JALPAIGURI DISTRICT IN WEST BENGAL

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was passed in 2005 and went into effect on February 2, 2006, covering 200 districts across India. Later on, this scheme was renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2009.This act was passed to improve the stability of rural livelihoods by offering every household whose adult members agreed to perform unskilled manual labour 100 days of guaranteed pay employment in each financial year.The Ministry of Rural Development implements this scheme in partnership with state governments. The local governance bodies, such as Panchayati Raj Institutions, play an important role in the project development and implementation ofthis scheme in rural India. MGNREGS programs include water conservation, drought mitigation, land development, rural connection, and other rural infrastructure-building initiativeschosen according to local requirements and priorities.We selected the Jalpaiguri district for our study because it has several problems such as seasonal lockouts of tea plantations, shuttered tea gardens, unemployed laborers in isolated and closed forest villages, no heavy industry since independence, etc. In this paper we attempt to find out whether the implementation of the MGNREGA program in the Jalpaiguri district has improved the livelihood of the Tribal Population in the district and also how effective this program is in dealing with the unemployment problem among the ST population in the district.This study is based on both primary and secondary data from two blocks of Jalpaiguri district i.e. Mal and Nagrakata blockscovering the period 2017-18 to 2022-23. And from each block, I have chosen the two most populace GPs within the blocks.Although the MGNREGS is a good program for reducing rural poverty and unemployment, our primary survey reveals inadequate results in terms of job creation for tribal peoples and those living in the remote tea garden areas within the district. Furthermore, this scheme does not improve Scheduled Tribes (STs) standard of living by providing jobs and promoting their participation in village affairs, hence it is less effective as the participation of ST workers against active workers currently stands at only 12.86 percent.

Socio, Economic And Infrastructural Impact Of MGNREGA: Lessons From Two Decades Of Public Policy

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) also famously known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is an Indian Laboure’s law which was exceedingly recognised as the social safety net in the post independent era. Since its inception 2005, the scheme has been providing employment to the rural households during vulnerable situations particularly in the lean seasons. The objectives of directive principle of state policy (DPSP) have been fulfilled through this scheme to establish economic and social democracy in the country. Over the years, the cumulative total exceeds 50 billion persondays since the program's inception. The present paper attempts analyse the MGNREGA’s impact on the different sectors

The Politics of Social Policy Implementation: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Uneven Development in India

Since the onset of the twenty-first century, India has initiated various social welfare programs to provide social protection for the people who have been marginalized from the formal social safety net. Since 2005, legislation has granted a series of social rights to marginalized rural households. Among these rights-based welfare programs, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) stands out as the flagship initiative of India’s new welfare system. It has targeted marginalized informal rural households, who have not enjoyed the fruits of the social safety net, by formally granting them the right to employment. It has also incorporated new governance ideas such as a demand-driven approach, decentralized implementation, and social audit to increase accountability and transparency. The MGNREGA has emerged as the largest social welfare scheme in terms of budget allocation and coverage, yielding positive outcomes such as increased beneficiary incomes, advancement of gender equality, and creation of assets in rural areas. Nonetheless, despite the expansion of the MGNREGA all over India, policy outcomes have been uneven between the states in terms of participation rates, the relationship between poverty level and participation, and cumulative average person-days per household. This prompts the question: why does the MGNREGA produce superior policy outcomes in certain states but not in others? By delving into the politics surrounding policy implementation at the local level, this paper argues that the degree of goal congruence between policy implementers shapes divergent policy outcomes.

Addressing Rural Poverty, Efficacy of MGNREGA and Migration Against Agricultural Productivity: Case of Kalahandi, India

ABSTRACT Poverty remains a major challenge for the countries of the global south. Decent employment opportunity, a crucial determinant of poverty reduction, is increasingly becoming elusive for those countries regardless of a decent rate of economic growth. There is a growing separation of economic growth and employment growth under the aegis of neo-liberal economic policies. Economic growth, instead of becoming inclusive, turns out to be “jobless” or “job loss.” Failing to reverse this trend, “Active Labour Market Policies” (ALMPs) in the form of “Public Works Programmes” (PWPs) have emerged as a major strategy to reduce unemployment and poverty. Secondly, rural–urban migration is very much relied upon for the same. Raising agricultural productivity, a crucial question of “agrarian transition,” well evident and verified across the globe, is, however, becoming oblivion in the fight against poverty. In this context, based on a primary survey of 300 households in the poorest regions of India, this paper endeavors to investigate the relative strength of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), rural–urban migration, and land productivity on poverty. The study suggests that an agrarian-centric intervention is more effective in dealing with poverty as compared to MGNREGA (ALMPs) and migration.

Socio-economic Profile of the Beneficiaries of MGNREGA: A Study on the MGNREGA in the Nalanda District of Bihar

Background: Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, was notified by Ministry of rural development, GOI in September, 2005. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is the first statute in the history of India empowering rural India with the power of work. The present study aims to analyse socio-economic profile of the beneficiaries of MGNREGA: A study on the MGNREGA in Nalanda district of Bihar. Methods: In this research during the year 2022-2023. Nalanda district in Bihar is selected for the study. Hilsa block for the study since it contains the greatest number of MGNREGA beneficiaries. Six villages in total were purposefully chosen for the study. A random sample of 120 respondents was obtained. Pre-structured interview schedules were used to gather the data and relevant statistical analysis was carried out to determine the significant findings. Result: The findings of the study shows that the majority of respondents 42.50 percent belong to the middle age group; the majority of respondents 46.67 per cent were illiterate; the majority 47.50 per cent belonged to the schedule class caste; the majority 53.34 per cent held land holdings of less than one acre; the majority 39.17 per cent worked alone as their primary occupation; forty per cent had low annual incomes; the majority 50.83 per cent had a family of medium size; the majority 43.33 per cent were involved in social activities; the majority 48.33 per cent had medium-level social participation and most (47.50%) of the respondents were having medium level of extension contacts.

CRITICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL SECURITY WELFARE SCHEMES RUNNING FOR CASUAL LABOURERS IN INDIA

This research Paper is based on the objective of critically analysing the welfare schemes running for casual labourers in India. Casual Labourers comes from the informal sector of the economy and they do not have much required social security. They face lot of problems like low wages, long working hours, miserable working conditions, poor quality of life, low access to health, education and other basic facilities like housing, clean drinking water, good quality of food etc. In order to help them, many social security schemes are running in the country. Among them major ones are Pradhan Mantri Jeewan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme, One Nation One Ration Card, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. Their knowledge about the welfare schemes is very low due to lack of awareness and illiteracy. Hence, being in a situation of dilemma, they are unable to take the benefits of the welfare schemes properly. This research paper aims at the critical review of these schemes and also focuses on finding the difficulties faced by casual labourers in achieving the benefits of these schemes, with the help of interview schedule method by taking interview of 100 workers of Kanpur Nagar. The major findings include improper implementation of welfare schemes due to corruption in some cases and poor execution of the objectives of the schemes at grass root level. Casual labourers also find it very difficult to understand properly about all the objectives of the schemes as they are not aware of the rules and regulations about a particular scheme. It seems that awareness campaigns, easy rules of execution of the schemes and regular quality check is required to make things better.

AN ANALYSIS OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN THE POST-REFORM PERIOD IN HARYANA

In 1991, India embarked on a journey of economic liberalization that introduced sweeping changes to its economic policies, aimed at integrating the Indian economy with the global market. These changes included deregulation, privatization of various sectors, and an opening up to foreign investments, leading to significant economic growth. However, the distribution of benefits from these reforms was uneven across different regions and demographics. Haryana, in response to the rapid industrial growth and resultant challenges, implemented a series of state and central government programs to alleviate poverty and improve social welfare. These initiatives, such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), aimed at enhancing social security, employment opportunities, and living conditions. Despite notable successes, these programs faced challenges such as corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of accessibility, highlighting the complex dynamics of policy implementation in diverse settings. Keywords: Economic Liberalization, Poverty Alleviation, Public Distribution System, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

A Study on the Role of MGNREGA in Fostering Economic Development via Welfare Initiatives, Employment Opportunities, and Asset Formation in Rural Bangalore

Abstract: Over the years, the evolution of the Indian economy has witnessed substantial transformation and enhancement. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as a pivotal component in fostering the development of rural India, primarily through its dual impact of employment generation and asset formation. This research paper employs trend analysis to investigate the pivotal role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in driving economic development in rural areas of Bangalore. MGNREGA, a flagship welfare initiative, is examined through its multifaceted impact on welfare enhancement, employment generation, and asset accumulation. The study delves into the effectiveness of MGNREGA in improving the socio-economic well-being of rural communities by providing critical welfare benefits, facilitating employment opportunities, and promoting asset formation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the nuanced relationship between MGNREGA initiatives and economic development outcomes in rural Bangalore. By uncovering significant trends and patterns, the research offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to optimize MGNREGA's impact on fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth in rural areas

Examining decentralization, patronage, and rent seeking: lessons from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Uttar Pradesh

ABSTRACT The present study delves into the complex interplay of decentralization, patronage, and rent seeking within the context of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA, Act) in Uttar Pradesh (UP). It addresses some pertinent questions: How does decentralization promote corruption? What tactics and strategies does the local implementer (pradhan) adopt to manipulate this Act? Have these manipulations benefited the pradhan? How have these strategies affected poor households? Drawing on data collected through household surveys, and semi-structured interviews with bureaucrats, sitting pradhans, and local power holders, I investigate whether decentralization has enabled marginalized communities to access employment opportunities or has facilitated patronage and rent seeking practices. The findings suggest that political actors and power brokers exploit decentralized structures for personal gains, manipulating resource allocation and beneficiary selection. Such practices of rent seeking can dilute the demand-driven principles of the Act and defeat the objective of equitable development.

Towards right to work: A reflexive analysis on an action research

This article explores the potential of action research by evaluating the research process, methodological nuances and experiential learnings of an action researcher involved in the action research conducted at Dudhera, a rural village in India on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It documents the struggles and resistance of MGNREGA workers of Dudhera. They came together and decided to claim rights under MGNREGA when they felt powerless and starved - of both information and influence over the key decisions that affected their lives. The article critically examines the implementation failure of MGNREGA and the malpractices perpetuated by the Panchayat. It also portrays the community’s determination to bring change by claiming their right and challenging the status quo. The article also presents a reflexive analysis of action research, including the role of action researcher, community engagement and subjective transformation of both self and community in the action research process. The article advances knowledge about participatory action research and its potential for transformative change.

An Empirical Study of the Impact of NREGA Implementation on Rural Poverty Rates in India

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), now known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was implemented in India with the objective of enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment per year to every household willing to do unskilled manual work. This study empirically examines the impact of NREGA on rural poverty rates in India, utilizing a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach to analyze data from the National Sample Survey (NSS) and Census of India. The findings reveal a significant reduction in rural poverty rates in districts where NREGA was implemented compared to non-NREGA districts. The program has been particularly effective in regions with higher initial poverty levels, indicating successful targeting of the most vulnerable populations. Additionally, the study highlights regional variations in the impact of NREGA, with some areas experiencing greater benefits than others. The results suggest that while NREGA has substantially contributed to poverty reduction, its effectiveness is influenced by local governance and administrative capacities. Policy recommendations include improving administrative efficiency, enhancing the quality and sustainability of created assets, and complementing NREGA with other skill development and capacity-building initiatives. Addressing regional disparities and ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are also crucial for maximizing the program’s impact.

Post-Pandemic Challenges of Textile Industry Workers in India: Analysis of Social Security Laws of Select Asian Countries

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic ensued a challenging period for global health; however, the loss of livelihoods throughout the lockdown also led to a significant economic issue that warranted a reassessment of the existing socio-economic structures. Manufacturing lines were severely impeded, particularly in the Indian textile industry, the second-largest employer and labour-intensive industry. The initial lockdown did not provide manufacturers enough time to prepare for the impending catastrophe, compelling many to shut down their operations. The above circumstances highlighted the lack of resilient social security laws in India. Despite initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme and other initiatives like grain distribution to families below the poverty line, lack of economic security came to the forefront. There is a need to have a competent social security legal framework in India to ensure economic stability for all that would fall in line with the noble ideas of the framers of the Constitution as enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy, the guiding light for all state action in India. India has not ratified the International Labour Organizations Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention of 1952. The focal area of the current research would be to look into the sufficiency of the legal framework (International and National) to protect the economic interests of the workers. The authors examine the following: 1. Examine the Code on Social Security, 2020 passed by the Indian legislature interpreting it in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on textile manufacturing in India along with other steps initiated by the government for the textile industry. 2. Carry out a comparative analysis of the social security laws of other Asian countries (Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China) to carve out best practices that can be adopted in India. 3. Analyse and contrast the statistical data of the four predominant textile manufacturing and exporting economies on selected parameters.

Study of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Saraipali area

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), a landmark social welfare program launched by the Government of India in 2005, represents a significant initiative aimed at reducing rural poverty and promoting sustainable development across the country. Rooted in Gandhian philosophy and principles of social justice, MNREGA embodies a commitment to provide guaranteed employment opportunities to rural households, thereby improving their economic well-being and contributing to the overall development of rural communities. This study is important as it will provide empirical insight into the grassroots impact of MGNREGA in a specific rural context. By exploring the strengths, weaknesses and possibilities for improvement of the scheme within the Saraipali assembly constituency, the findings of this thesis can inform policy decisions and program adjustments at the local, regional and national levels.

MGNREGA and Women Empowerment: A Literature Review

Creating jobs has been the goal of every government. Since independence, a large number of programmes have been implemented to eradicate poverty and unemployment from the country in the rural area. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is one such programme introduced by government of India. The primary goals of the MGNREGA is job creation, and poverty reduction. Regarded as having a pioneering effect on rural impoverishment and joblessness, MGNREGA's original concepts of guaranteed employment have been acknowledged. This program has received a great deal of attention, being carefully examined, comprehended by everyone, and is riddled with fundamental conflicts. In this paper, the analyses of various facets of MGNREGA by many researchers, academics, and government institutions' are highlighted.

The National Policy of Empowerment of Women- A Critical Evaluation of Policies with Special Reference to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2006

The simple logic about the status of women in India is “as women receive greater education and training, they will earn more money. As women earn more money they spend it in the further education and health of their children, as opposed to men. Women rise in economic status; they will gain greater social standing in the household and the village, and will have greater voice. As women gain influence and consciousness, they will make stronger claims to their entitlements - gaining further training, better access to credit and higher incomes - and command attention of police and courts when attacked. As women's economic power grows, it will be easier to overcome the tradition of "son preference" and thus put an end to the evil of dowry. As son preference declines and acceptance of violence declines, families will be more likely to educate their daughters” (Coonrod, 1998). In other words, the women need to be ‘empowered.’

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) - Description and Evaluation of the Rural Employment Policy in India

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in India, tracing its origins from the National Food for Work Programme. The study explores the policy framework, objectives, and implementation of MGNREGA, emphasizing its role in addressing work and food shortages in Indian villages. The paper employs policy analysis and impact assessment methodologies, considering factors such as rural poverty, wealth distribution, and the need for inclusive economic growth. The evaluation covers key features of the policy, including the establishment of a National Employment Guarantee Fund, weekly wage payments, gender equality, and prohibition of contractors and labour-displacing machines. The impact assessment indicates positive outcomes in areas such as income, labour rates, food security, savings, debt clearance, confidence building, and reduced distress migration. The case study of Andhra Pradesh highlights the program's effectiveness, with an average employment of 53 days per household and an additional income of Rs.5100 during the 2010-11 period. The paper underscores MGNREGA's significance in achieving participatory and equitable growth, complementing market-oriented and infrastructure-related policies.

Role of MGNREGA in Sustainable Development: Environmental and Social Perspectives

The article examines the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), focusing on its environmental and social impacts for sustainable development in rural India. It highlights the importance of eco-friendly practices and empowerment of marginalized communities, while also identifying challenges and offering policy recommendations to enhance MGNREGA's environmental and social sustainability. Strategies for integrating these considerations into MGNREGA planning and implementation are discussed to ensure effective poverty alleviation and inclusive, sustainable development in rural areas. Further research is recommended to evaluate these strategies and address emerging challenges.