A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF MGNREGP-2005 IN

IRRADICATING WOMEN ECONOMIC STAGNATION WITH

SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MULAKULAM GRAMA
PANCHAYATH

ABSTRACT
The present investigation was carried out with the objective to determine the role of Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in irradicating women economic stagnation with
special reference to Mulakulam Grama Panchayath. The objective of the study is (i) to understand how this
scheme is helpful for women empowerment, (ii) to study the effectiveness of the scheme for irradication, (iii) to
analyze its importance for rural development, (iv) to evaluate its efficiency in raising standard of living. The
important objectives of this programme are creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resources
base of the rural poor.. This act aims to provide a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of employment in every
financial year to at least one adult member of any rural household willing to do the public work related
unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage of Rs 164 per day.

INTRODUCTION
Economic development of a country depends upon many factors like better infrastructure, health,
education, employment opportunities etc. Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, said that India lives in its
villages. The soul of India is in its villages Literally and from the social, economic and political perspectives
the statement is valid even today. Around 65% of the population in our country is living in rural areas.Hence
rural development, inclusive of economic growth and social justice, improvement in the living standard of the
rural people with adequate and quality social services and minimum basic needs, becomes essential.The
department of rural development will provide logistic support both on technical and administrative side to the
programme implementation. Another aspect that might lead to transformation of rural life is also being
emphasized simultaneously. Perhaps the only one programme, sometimes the most important one through
which the above goals can be achieved is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
(MGNREGP).Prior to the enactment of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
(MGNREGP). India had no programs that promised employment as the legal right although employment
generation through employment generation through rural work had a long history in India, Dating back to the
1960, since 1960 the govt. had been merging old schemes to introduce new ones. While retaining the basic
objectives of providing additional wage employment involving and skilled manual work with special safe guard
for the community.

SCOPE AND IMPORTANNCE OF THE STUDY

The central government of India introduced a number of programs for poverty eradication , overall
development of rural power , encouraging women and children and many other welfare programs fully or
partially made positive result in rural areas , for the purpose of development and welfare or rural poor the last
and first important program is their MGNREGA. The important objectives of this program are creation of
durable assets and strengthening the livelihood recourses base of the rural poor. Investment made under
MGNREGA are erected to generate employment and purchasing power , raise economic productivity , promote
women participation in the work free , strengthen the rural infrastructure by the creation of durable assets ,
reduce distress migration and contribute to the regeneration of natural resources.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

UN employment and poverty are the interrelated problem in areas. Even though government has taken
several steps they are not fully successful. Though MGNREGP in a revolutionary scheme it also has a number
of limitations. The present study aims at evaluating the extent to which it has succeed in poverty alleviation and
women improvement.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To understand how this scheme is helpful for women empowerment.

To study the effectiveness of the scheme for eradication of poverty.
To analyze its importance for rural development.
To evaluate its efficiency in raising standard of living.

HYPOTHESIS
There is impact of MGNREGP on empowerment of women
There is impact on MGNREGP raising the standard of living.
There is role of MGNREGP on rural development.
The scheme is effecyive for the irradication of poverty.

METHODOLOGY

Both primary data and secondary data were used for study. Primary data were obtained from survey of
20 households by using preplanned question are and discussion with MGNREGP implementation unit.
Secondary data were collected from the websites, books and journals.We selected Mulakulam Grama
Panchayath for conducting our survey. The collected data were summarized, codified, and interpreted, with the
help of statistical tools such as bar diagram, pie diagram, tables etc.

Features of the scheme

Local governments are given a central role in the planning and implementation of NREGA (National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act 2005) and are the sole agencies responsible for implementation of local
development projects under the scheme in Kerala

Technical Sanction of the work is given not by individual engineers, but by a Technical Committee of
engineers which includes a government engineer, a retired engineer and an engineer working in an academic
institution for the purposes of transparency.

An appellate system has been put in place at the district level to facilitate speedy sorting out of disputes.
 To mobilize the workers and the public and to assist the local governments in carrying out its duties, Village
Panchayat have been given the freedom to identify one public servant of their choice having the time and
inclination to do social work from any government department are posted on working arrangement as NREGS
co-coordinators.

Kudumbasree is given in the implementation of the programme. Under Kudumbasree every family below
poverty line is organized into a Neighborhood Group (NHG) at the local level consisting of 15 to 40 families
with each family being represented only by a woman.

Analysis and interpretation of data

Out of 17 wards only one ward of the Panchayath is selected randomly for study. For conducting the
survey we prepared structured questionnaire with 29 questions and distributed the same among 20
respondents.The collected data are expressed and analyzed under the following heads.

DATA ANALYSIS

Table1 - Use of income from MGNREGP

Purpose No. of person percentage

consumption 12 60
savings 3 15
Pay off debts 5 25
total 20 100

Figure 1- Use of income from MGNREGP

INCOME FROM MGNREGP

100 INCOME
FROM
50 MGNREGP
0
Consumption savings pay off debts

The table and figure shows the use of income from MGNREGP. Most of the persons use income for
their daily consumption (60%) then 25% use their income for paying off debts . saving are only done by 15 %
of the people. The data reveals that the income from MGNREGP helps the beneficiaries to meet their daily
consumption. So the MGNREGP has a major role in increasing the consumer demand. Another major item is
paying off debt. But the MGNREGP has fewer roles in increasing the savings among beneficiaries.
Table 2 - Satisfaction about employment days

Opinion of frequency percentage

respondents
satisfactory 5 25

Not satisfactory 15 75

Total 20 100

Figure 2 - Satisfaction about employment days

satisfaction about Employment days

satisfactory
not satisfactory75

The MGNREGP Act guarantees 100 days of employment during a financial year. But the table and figure say
that 75% of selected people want more employment days. Only 25 % of the population is satisfied with the
existing employment days.

Caste wise Distribution of workers

Caste No. of workers percentage

SC 8 40
OEC 5 25
OBC 4 20
Others 3 15
Total 20

CASTE WISE DISTRIBUTION

CASTE WISE
DISTRIBUTION

SC OEC OBC OTHERS

Of the selected samples 40% belongs to sc category.25 % are OEC and 20% are OBC category . General
category occupied 15%. There is no wide disparity between castes. It shows more or less equal participation of
people from all caste in MGNREGP.
 .Table 4- Evaluation of the employees about the MGNREGP

Particulars No. of people percentage

Very good 10 50
good 5 25
average 3 15
bad 2 10
total 20 100

Figure4 - Evaluation about the employees about MGNREGP

Evaluation abot the MGNREGP

Evaluation abot the
100
MGNREGP
50
0
Very good good average bad

The table and figure shows that most of the beneficiaries are satisfied with the programme. 50% of
workers rated the programme as very good. 25% good and 15% average. 10% said it is a bad programme. The
data reveals the popularity of the programme.

The analysis and interpretation of the collected data reveals the importance of MGNREGP in
employment generation and poverty alleviation. One of the notable factors is that almost all the beneficiaries are
women. This gave financial strength to women and also leads to women empowerment. Most of the employees
have their own electrified houses. The banking accessibility of employees increased after joining the
programme. The income from MGNREGP used for consumption and pay off debts. The programme has
increased their standard of living. Thus the programme fulfilled almost all its objectives as our government
visualized.

FINDINGS

The programme was started in 2008 and the completion of 5 years the panchayat provided a
considerable number of employments. In 2008 only 16.67% was registered and it was increased to
31.66% in 2011.
The programme introduced for guarantee 100 days of employment to adult member in poor families.
56% of the respondents completed 100 days employment during the financial year 2012-2013 so the
programme has generated employment in rural areas..
 100% of the beneficiaries of the programme are women in our study. Though the programme has no
gender discrimination, lack of the participation of men is mainly because of low base level.
The programme has increased the banking habit of the employees. The wages are given through the
bank account.
The programme focuses on both productive works like agricultural activities and unproductive works
like cleaning. It will reduce unemployment and poverty in rural areas.
Our study shows that almost all the workers are not satisfied with wage level. Now they get only
Rs.229.00 per day. Considering the present cost of living the present wage is very low.

SUGGESTIONS

It is desirable to focus on productive activities through MGNREGP. Productive activities generate

income. This can be used by the Government to give wages to the MGNREGP beneficiaries.
Remuneration is the major factor attracting a person to a job. It is good to increase the wage level from
Rs.229.00 to at least Rs.300.00.
There is 365 days in a year so 100 days job is not satisfactory. It is desirable to increase the number of
job days from 100 to at least 200.
The Central Government and state government must ensure the proper implementation of MGNREGP.
This will increase the effectiveness of the programme.
The government provides allowances after completing 50 days of work. This will increase the
efficiency and productivity of the labour.
Employment opportunities through MGNREGP mainly provided in the agricultural sector. It is better to
provide employment opportunities in other sectors like small scale industries.

CONCLUSION

The MGNREGP is idealistic in the sense that it guarantees employment to those who demand it.
MGNREGP seeks to provide at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year. Through this study, the
role of programme in employment generation and poverty alleviation clearly examined. Our study reveals that
the programme has an immense role in Mulakulam Gramapanchayat. The number of registered person
increases year by year. The programme leads to the upliftment of the backward communities.Another important
fact is the participation of women. About 99% of workers are women in Kuravilangad. It is 90% and 33% in
Kerala and all India level respectively. MGNREGP aims at poverty alleviation in rural areas. It can be
understand from the case study of Mulakulam Gramapanchayat. Data reveals that there is an increase in
purchasing power, saving habits, banking transactions of employees. This means the programme helped in
poverty eradication and employment generation. Thus the programme is implemented successfully in
Mulakulam Grampanchaayat.

REFERENCE

Pratiyogita Darpan September 2015

Indian Economy Book by Datt and Sundra
Free E-Book of Indian Economy
Wikipedia