A multi‐dimensional analysis of the impacts of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: A tale from Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This paper provides a multi-dimensional analysis of the impacts of the Indian Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme using a case study from rural Tamil Nadu. Drawing on structured interviews in households and semi-structured interviews with local employers and officials, we analyse the effects of the workfare scheme when it is widely and properly implemented. We distinguish between different conceptualizations of the work scheme as a means of welfare provision, labour market policy and intervention directed towards other objectives. We found that the goals of the scheme were fulfilled unevenly in the given context. Among other findings, we show that positive effects on the welfare of participating and non-participating households were accompanied by adverse effects on the local economy and negligible impact on out-migration for work.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: A Policy Solution to Rural Poverty in India?

“…Like Dreze () and Novotný et al. (), we found that MGNREGA did shift labour relations in some circumstances, giving a modest increase in bargaining power to labourers who, in some instances, were able to request better wages or better working conditions. Part of the reason for this was that MGNREGA offered choice to workers.…”

“…Second, some studies found that MGNREGA reduced migration in certain states (Liu and Barrett, ), while other studies found that MGNREGA had minimal impact on migration (Novotný et al., ). Novotný et al.…”

“…Pani and Iyer (2012: 14) indicate that 'local processes are typically better captured through detailed qualitative analysis' and that is what we endeavour to do here. This study thus adds to emerging literature on micro-level analysis of multiple dimensions (Novotn y et al, 2013). Using this approach enables the researcher to discover new, as yet unconsidered, elements of a particular policy intervention that might get overlooked in other macro-level approaches.…”

Access to Services and Barriers faced by People with Disabilities: A Quantitative Survey

“…The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) guarantees 100 days of work to those in rural areas, in theory, including those with disability (Ministry of Rural Development, 2005). However, such government policies have largely failed to deliver employment, and people with disabilities have only been included in NREGA at levels less than 0.1% of the total programme (Ministry of Statistics, 2011;Das, 2013;Novotny et al, 2013). In this study, people with disabilities commonly face barriers to working at levels 4-8 times higher than those without disabilities (Table 5).…”

“…The UNCRPD (UN General Assembly, 2007) requires employers to make reasonable accommodation to make workplaces accessible. However, absence of accommodation for the needs of persons with disability (15.8%), negative attitudes from employers (16.9%) and physical inaccessibility of the workplace remain significant barriers to work in this study and in India as a whole (Ministry of Statistics, 2011;World Health Organization and World Bank, 2011;Kumar et al, 2012;Novotny et al, 2013).…”