MGNREGA Bibliography

Abstract

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has completed four years since its inception in India. The aim of this programme is to enhance livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of manual wage employment to every household in a year. If this programme achieve it objectives of , first, providing work and thus income to the poor and marginal sections of the society and second, create productive assets that raise land productivity and thus, contribute in raising agricultural yields, then it would be able to transform the face of rural India. The ‘Right to Work’ establishes in this Act makes it a distinctive and special in terms of resource allocation and the number of households demand employment. Today, 45 million households have demanded jobs under this programme for year 2009-10. The participation of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes and Women in the large proportion is one of the main achievements of this programme. There are still large regional variations in the performance in the implementation of this scheme in various states. It is essential to reduce this gap among states in terms of its implementation. However, the average 42 days of the work at all India level have been provided under MGNREGA and this is significant to raise this average, specially when it is completing now two years of implantation in all rural districts of the country. Various independent studies have challenged the claims made by the government regarding the success of this programme. But important is that, such a huge employment guarantee programme in terms of size and resources is showing its positive results on the rural India. It is important to underline that vast mechanism for its monitoring and evaluation sometime works in making the implementation process slow. But the involvement of Gram Sabha, civil society members and government administration machinery has been bearing the good results in general. However, challenges are there but progress is quite encouraging. There are reports of delays in the release of funds, providing jobs, payments of work and issuance of job cards etc. Lack of trained and professional staff is another acute problem at the grass root implementation of the programme. But despite all these weaknesses this Act is a major step in the direction of addressing the problem of poverty in rural India. The change is slow but its impacts are visible in terms of income generation and creation of productive assets in villages. Off course, whether more optimistic possibilities work themselves out depends on a number of conditions. Most importantly it depends on the social mobilisation, and participation of beneficiaries in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the programmes

https://www.ace.lu.se/images/Syd_och_sydostasienstudier/working_papers...

Caste Challenges Gender Implementation

Abstract

The government of India has shifted from cash payment of wages under the renamed Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme to settlement through bank accounts. This has been done in order to prevent defrauding of workers and to give them greater control over their wages. Has this been achieved after the switch? Based on a survey in December 2008 in one block each in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) districts, this article probes questions related to payment of wages through banks.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25663966

Implementation Politics Wages

Abstract

The document summarizes the key recommendations of a Working Group on wages for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). It identifies issues like declining real wages for NREGA workers as prices rise without corresponding wage increases. The Working Group made three emergency recommendations: 1) Index NREGA wages to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers to maintain a real wage of at least Rs. 100 per day. 2) Ensure compliance with state minimum wage laws. 3) Pay wages within 15 days as stipulated in the law and provide compensation for delays as per the Payment of Wages Act. The Working Group noted the crisis in wage policy and lack of clarity around wage determination, and called for resolving these issues through consultation.

https://www.scribd.com/document/190628042/Wages

Wages

Abstract

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India has keenly partnered with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, since the inception of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to support implementation and monitoring. UNDP has facilitated awareness of the programme and demand for work amongst communities; provided technical expertise in key functional areas; facilitated civil-society engagement in assessment and learning; national and global knowledge sharing; and supported innovative approaches to strengthen transparency and accountability.

This discussion paper — Rights-based Legal Guarantee as Development Policy: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act — is part of a series that UNDP has commissioned on a range of development issues in India.

As the programme continues to gain momentum across India, the paper examines the legal design and policy innovations and the extent to which they enable fulfillment of the objectives of the Act. I complement the author on this comprehensive analysis of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA design and paradoxes that face policy makers in efforts to implement an Act. The perspectives offered here will no doubt resonate with policy formulation efforts underway in other development contexts.

Through this discussion paper, the intention is to share information and experiences from within India and provide a platform for further dialogue on employment guarantee programmes globally as well. Going forward, UNDP will focus its efforts on establishing strategic partnerships to enable India to share its wealth of expertise on poverty reduction with other countries.

https://www.undp.org/india/publications/rights-based-legal-guarantee-d...

Implementation Poverty Qualitative

Abstract

This study of the functioning of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme between February 2006 and July 2009 in Birbhum district, West Bengal reveals that in order to serve as an effective “employer of last resort”, the programme should provide proportionately more job-days during the agricultural lean season and wages should be paid in a timely manner.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2010/41/commentary/national-rural-employmen...

Challenges Wages

Abstract

Recent, “rights-based approaches” offer a promising route for bringing about social change. However, we have little experience with state-provided legally enforceable socio-economic rights. This paper examines one of the few examples of a legally granted socio-economic right—a limited “right to work”—that has existed in one state of India for over 25 years in the form of the Employment Guarantee Scheme. The paper argues that legal underpinnings do not automatically enable the poor to obtain rights; however, legal rights have important indirect effects for pro-poor activist organizations including mobilizing membership, protecting activists from arbitrary action, and shifting public discourse.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305750X0900203...

Poverty

Abstract

Gender Poverty

Abstract

The NREGS is an ambitious public works program intended to provide a basic safety net to the rural poor in India. Institutionalised in 2005, it is currently the largest public works program in the world. Despite its scale and the political importance attached to the program, its success in targeting and its impact on participating households has not been well studied. This paper attempts to study two aspects of the program’s functioning using data from the Young Lives longitudinal Study conducted in Andhra Pradesh. Firstly it looks at the targeting of the program and the characteristics of those who self select into it. We find that poorer and lower caste households are more likely to register as are those affected by drought. We also find that having more than 5 influential relatives increases the probability of registration by 10.3 percentage points. We next attempt to estimate the impact of program participation on the children in participating households, looking specifically at anthropometric scores as indicators of health outcomes, and the incidence of child labour. While there seems to be a positive correlation between program participation and health outcomes, this does not remain robust across specifications. On the other hand we find that program registration reduces the probability of a boy entering child labour by 13.4% points and program take up reduces it for girls by 8.19% points.

We find that the targeting efficiency of the program seems to be largely effective and it seems to offer a viable security net for households with variable employment opportunities. It also seems to have an important effect on children, further strengthening the program’s significance.

https://www.younglives.org.uk/sites/default/files/migrated/YL-SP-Uppal...

Caste Quantitative

Abstract

In a recent interview, Jean Dreze, one of the architects of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), noted that the “hoarding” of job cards by sarpanchs, panchayat secretaries or others is a common problem. Such practices are followed by the offenders to fudge records and siphon NREGS funds. Dreze argued that hoarding of job cards must be made a punishable offence under the much-awaited grievance redress rules of the NREGS.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2009/32/letters/politics-job-cards.html

Corruption Politics

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Implementation

Abstract

https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30183321.ece

Challenges

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By the end of the next decade, NREGA, the mother of all employment programmes, can help rid the economy of its two biggest problems—unemployment and poverty. Here’s why it can achieve the impossible.

https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/village-of-202...

Poverty

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which entitles rural households to 100 days of casual employment on public works at the statutory minimum wage, contains special provisions to ensure full participation of women. This paper, based on fieldwork in six states in 2008, examines the socio-economic consequences of the NREGA for women workers. In spite of the drawbacks in the implementation of the legislation, significant benefits have already started accruing to women through better access to local employment, at minimum wages, with relatively decent and safe work conditions. The paper also discusses barriers to women’s participation.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25663707

Gender Implementation Wages

Abstract

https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/article30183831.ece

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) on poor rural households. In particular, we study the impact of the program on food security, savings, and health outcomes. We have a panel data of 1,064 households from 198 villages of Andhra Pradesh, over two years. In the early stage of the program, several households that applied for work were denied employment due to shortage of work. We exploit this exogenous variation to calculate triple-difference estimates of the impact of the program. Our results indicate that the NREGS significantly increased the monthly per capita expenditure on food and non-food consumables. The program also improved food security by a significant reduction in the number of meals foregone by households per week. The program raised the probability of holding savings and reduced the incidence of depression among rural households.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X14002940

Poverty Quantitative

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA) guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to participate in unskilled manual work The Act is an important step towards realization of the right to work and aims at arresting out-migration of rural households in search of employment simultaneously enhancing people’s livelihood on a sustained basis, by developing the economic and social infrastructure in rural areas. The present study on evaluation of the NREG Scheme is intended to assess the impact of this scheme on the overall quality of life of people by gauging different parameters associated with the improvement of overall quality of life of people such as impact on income – earning levels of each household, expenditure on food and non-food items, household and cultivable assets creation by the beneficiaries. This study also captured the impact of the scheme to arrest out-migration, views and feed-back of the beneficiaries on various faucets of implementation of the scheme at grass root level right from the stage of issue of job cards etc. With the above set of objectives, the study was carried out in 20 districts spread throughout India by targeting 300 beneficiaries from each district. These beneficiaries are hailing from the diverse geography and social background distributed evenly within the selected districts. The data pertains to the year 2006-07 during which period this scheme was launched in the first phase of 200 districts. By way of open-ended questionnaires, data on several variables were collected from these beneficiaries who are part of the NREGA Scheme. Overall impact of the scheme, views expressed by the beneficiaries etc. is elucidated in a nutshell in the following paras.

Implementation Quantitative Wages

Abstract

CSE

Abstract

The payment of wages into bank accounts for work carried out under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has been suggested as a way to prevent embezzlement of funds. The practice has already begun in a few districts. Is this a foolproof system to control corruption? The early experience from a few blocks in Orissa suggests that this process is not free from its own problems.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277388

Challenges Corruption Wages

Abstract

The draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the working of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was used by many sections of the media to strongly criticise this employment programme. Much of the coverage sensationalised the findings of the report. What did the CAG actually say? Where did the CAG fall short in its investigations? And what can we learn from the CAG to improve the functioning of the NREGA?

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277587

Implementation

Abstract

Theoretical work on disciplining corrupt agents has emphasized the role of expected future rents — for example, efficiency wages. Yet taken seriously this approach implies that illicit future rents should also deter corruption. We study this “golden goose” effect in the context of a statutory wage increase in India’s employment guarantee scheme, comparing official microrecords to original household survey data to measure corruption. We estimate large golden goose effects that reduced the total impact of the wage increase on theft by roughly 64 percent. In short, rent expectations matter.

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.5.4.230

Wages

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 is a law whereby any adult who is willing to do unskilled manual labour at the minimum wage is entitled to being employed on public works within fifteen days. This Primer is a simple introduction to the Act. Through a question- answer format, the Primer discusses the basic features of the Act, and suggests a few ideas about what concerned citizens can do to intensify the campaign for a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act.

https://www.nbtindia.gov.in/books_detail__20__popular-social-science__...

Implementation Wages

Abstract

The document discusses how the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in India has positively impacted women’s empowerment and independence in rural areas. Some key points: 1) NREGA aims to provide at least one-third of its jobs to women and ensure equal wages for men and women. Government data shows women make up over 40% of NREGA workers nationally. 2) A survey of women NREGA workers found that while most got less than 25 days of work, wages under NREGA were significantly higher than other local work, though not all received the legal minimum. 3) The reliable income has increased women’s independence, as they can now contribute to household expenses

https://www.scribd.com/doc/241646730/Navjyoti08-Employment-Guarantee-a...

Gender Quantitative Wages

Abstract

A social audit in Tamil Nadu finds that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has brought about major changes in the lives of women. However, the act overlooks the fact that childcare is a problem for many of the working women, especially for young mothers.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/09/commentary/employment-guarantee-wom...

Gender

Abstract

A social audit in Tamil Nadu finds that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has brought about major changes in the lives of women. However, the act overlooks the fact that childcare is a problem for many of the working women, especially for young mothers.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277196

Gender Qualitative

Abstract

The experience of the Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan in Madhya Pradesh shows the power of grassroots organisational work in activating the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Levels of NREGA employment in the Sangathan areas are as high as 85 days per household per year, and nearly half of all working households have got 100 days of work. They also earn the minimum wage. The Act can also be an opportunity to promote overall rural development and alter the balance of power in village society.

https://www.jobguarantee.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Khera-2008-Emp...

Implementation Quantitative

Abstract

The experience of the Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan in Madhya Pradesh shows the power of grassroots organisational work in activating the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Levels of NREGA employment in the Sangathan areas are as high as 85 days per household per year, and nearly half of all working households have got 100 days of work. They also earn the minimum wage. The Act can also be an opportunity to promote overall rural development and alter the balance of power in village society.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40278713

Caste Wages

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The intent of the Sixth Central Pay Commission is not quite problematic but implementation is the key.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/34/editorials/fair-paying-job.html

Challenges Implementation

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Abstract

Abstract

This case study identifies critical elements to the passage of the NREGA, an act guaranteeing employment to all Indian citizens. It highlights the role of institutions, events, and actors.

https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/indias-national-rural-empl...

Qualitative

Abstract

The document discusses issues with corruption negatively impacting the effectiveness of NREGS, India’s flagship rural employment guarantee program. Rampant corruption has resulted in most of the program funds being siphoned off through fake muster rolls and inflated numbers of work days. This is largely done by panchayat leaders who pocket much of the workers’ wages, sometimes paying workers as little as Rs. 20 of the mandated Rs. 82 per day minimum. Stronger monitoring and enforcement of transparency measures are needed to curb corruption and better achieve the goals of the program at helping rural households.

https://www.scribd.com/document/50485233/Sebastian-2008-More-is-Not-En...

Challenges Corruption Wages

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Challenges

Abstract

Abstract

The brutal murder of young Jharkhand activist Lalit Mehta exposes the violent opposition of vested interests deeply threatened by the radical provisions of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/23/letters/radicalism-nrega.html

Challenges Environmental Sustainability Poverty

Abstract

This article presents results on the participation of rural workers in the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme based on a pilot survey of three villages in Udaipur district in Rajasthan. Its focus is on participation in the NREG programme of different socio-economic groups and the determinants of the participation of these groups. It is found that the mean participation was 59 days and that targeting was satisfactory. The performance of the programme has been far from dismal.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277256

Quantitative

Abstract

Official hostility to social audits of the rural employment guarantee scheme takes an ugly turn in Jharkhand.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/31/editorials/struggle-right-employmen...

Challenges Corruption

Abstract

It is not possible to realise the massive potential of the National, Rural Employment Guarantee Act if we deploy the same ossified structure of implementation that has deeply institutionalised corruption, inefficiency and non-accountability into the very fabric of Indian democracy. On the other hand, if the reforms suggested in this paper are put into place, NREGA holds out the prospect of transforming the livelihoods of the poorest and heralding a revolution in rural governance in India.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40277179

Implementation Poverty

Abstract

An independent report offers constructive criticism, but the findings are being sensationalised.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2008/04/editorials/wake-call-rural-employme...

Challenges Implementation

Abstract

This working paper provides a survey of the theoretical underpinnings for the various employment guarantee schemes, and discusses full employment policy experiences in the United States, Sweden, India, Argentina, and France. The theoretical and policy developments are delineated in a historical context. The paper concludes by identifying some questions that still need to be addressed in the context of the global political economy.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=985162

Implementation Qualitative

Abstract

Even as we celebrate 60 years of Indian democracy, with millions of our people hungry, cynical and insecure, and living under the barrel of the gun (of the state or the extremists), we need to worry about the reach and quality of our political process. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has the potential to provide a “big push” in India’s regions of distress. For NREGA to be able to realise its potential, the role of civil society organisations is critical. But this calls for a new self-critical politics of fortitude, balance and restraint.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/45-46/perspectives/employment-guarante...

Politics Qualitative

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is into its second year of implementation. It is easy to criticise the Act and its execution. However, even as we recognise its shortcomings and the scope for correction, we must consider what it has achieved so far and the promise it continues to offer.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/52/commentary/employment-guarantee-pro...

Challenges Implementation

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act as implemented by the Orissa government has resulted in grandiose claims of expenditure but very little to show in reality.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/32/commentary/illusions-change.html

Budget Implementation

Abstract

The Government of India passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in September 2005, with a broad ‘national consensus’. This was hailed as a ‘historic piece of households in the rural areas by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage legislation’ and ‘People’s Act’. The Act provides for the enhancement of livelihood security of the employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual labour. It is noted that NREGA envisaged a paradigm shift ‘From Programme to Act’, compared to the different Wage Employment Programmes (WEP) operating in the country since 1980. The Act came into force initially in 200 districts, and later extended to another 130 districts. It is expected to cover the whole country within five years.

The evaluation study was carried out in Palakkad and Wayanad Districts of Kerala by the Centre for Rural Management (CRM), Kottayam. The report presents the findings of the study of NREGS for the year 2005-2007.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287336070_Impact_Assessment_o...

Quantitative

Abstract

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has so far posed no problem for the budget. Its allocation is only marginally higher than what was spent in the past by the government on various rural employment programmes. It is a demand-driven scheme and it has fallen far short of meeting demand in some states. The fund utilisation ratio also varies widely across states.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2007/07/commentary/implementation-employmen...

Budget Implementation Politics

Abstract

Since its enactment in 2005, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has been implemented in 200 districts in India. Based on state-by-state employment demand-supply data and the use of funds released under NREGA, it is found that, although it is a demand-driven scheme, there are significant interstate differences in the supply of employment. The supply falls far short of demand, particularly in low-income states, where the organizational capacity to implement the scheme is limited. It is also noted that the NREGA-induced fiscal expansion has not contributed to higher fiscal imbalances. The consolidation of other public employment programs into NREGA has actually kept the total allocation of funds by the central government at a level no higher than those reached in the fiscal years 2002-03 to 2005-06. The NREGA fund utilization ratio varies widely across states and is abysmally low in the poorer states. Since the flow of resources to individual states is based on approved plans outlining employment demand, it may turn out to be regressive for the poorer states with low organizational capacity in terms of planning and management of the schemes, especially labor demand forecasting.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1000215

Budget Implementation

Abstract

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/globalization-and-development-...

Abstract

Based on an evaluation of Argentina’s programme, Jefes de Hogar, and India’s Maharashtra’s Employment Guarantee Scheme, explores the significance of the policies for promotion of employment and how developing countries could create jobs.

https://www.ilo.org/publications/employer-last-resort-programme-could-...

Abstract

The social audit of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme conducted in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan brought out the administrative preparedness for the scheme and the benefits for women workers. Some problems remain, most importantly the lack of childcare facilities.

https://www.epw.in/journal/2006/20/commentary/employment-guarantee-and...

Gender Implementation