Working of MNREGA: A Study of Haryana & Punjab

Rajesh
Research Scholar
Department of Public Administration
M.D. University, Rohtak

ABSTRACT
RATIONALE OF THE STUDY: It has become decade since the passage of MNREGA and
it is the right time to evaluate the performance of wage employment scheme under the Act.
The effective implementation of MNREGA is not only crucial for employment generation to
rural poor but for creating durable assets for developing rural infrastructure at very grass root
level by ensuring development all-inclusive and sustainable. The underlying rationale of
present study is that the findings of the present study would help policy framers as well
executors in designing and implementing the scheme further.
OBJECTIVES: Following are the main objectives of the present study:
1. To examine the level of awareness among the beneficiaries about the provisions of
this Act.
2. To find out whether the beneficiaries have been provided employment for the
requisite number of days.
3. To examine whether the beneficiaries have been provided the prescribed wages.
4. To find out that the women have been provided employment as promised under the
Act.
5. To examine whether any type of corruption exits in the execution of work under this
Act.
HYPOTHESES: Following are the main hypotheses of the present study:
1. There is a lack of awareness about the provisions of the Act on the part of
beneficiaries.
2. The beneficiaries have not been issued job cards within the stipulated time frame.
3. The beneficiaries have not been provided employment for the requisite number of
days.
4. The beneficiaries are not paid as per the provisions of the Act.
5. The beneficiaries have not been provided the basic amenities at the work site as
prescribed under the Act.
METHODOLOGY: In the present study two districts viz.; Rohtak and Sahib Ajit Singh
(SAS) Nagar (Mohali) from the state of Haryana and Punjab respectively has been selected.
In Rohtak district there are 5 blocks and 151 gram panchayats whereas in Sahib Ajit Singh
Nagar there are 3 blocks and 376 gram panchayats which constitutes the universe of the
study. Out of this, 10 percent sample of the entire universe has been selected through random
sampling method which includes 15 gram panchayats from Rohtak district and 38 gram
panchayats from Sahib Ajit Singh Nagar. In all 53 gram panchayats will be taken into
consideration. Ten beneficiaries have been selected from each village panchayat through
random sampling method. Thus the total sample included 530 beneficiaries who have been

given employment under this Act. The primary data have been collected with the help of two
schedules.
MAIN FINDINGS: Following are the main hypotheses of the present study:
1. There is a lack of awareness about the provisions of the Act on the part of
beneficiaries.
2. The beneficiaries have been issued job cards within the stipulated time frame.
3. The beneficiaries have not been provided employment for the requisite number of
days.
4. The beneficiaries are not paid as per the provisions of the Act.
5. The beneficiaries have not been provided the basic amenities at the work site.