Uncovering the Link between MGNREGA Expenditure and Employment Generation: Exploring the Impact of Wages, Materials and Administration Costs

Vol 10 , Issue 1 , January - June 2023 | Pages: 45-57 | Research Paper

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https://doi.org/10.17492/jpi.pragati.v10i1.1012303

Published Online: June 15, 2023

Author Details ( * ) denotes Corresponding author

1. * Jeet Saha, Research scholar, Department of Economics, University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal, India (rs_jeet@nbu.ac.in)

2. Zafar Iqubal, Assistant professor, Department of Economics, Assistant professor, Siliguri, West Bengal, India (zafareco@nbu.ac.in)

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a prominent social welfare initiative in India designed to provide rural households with employment opportunities. This research paper analyses the relationship between expenditure on MGNREGA program and employment generation in India, West Bengal and five specific districts of West Bengal. Correlation analysis reveals a positive association, but multivariate regression analysis shows no statistical significance at national and state levels. However, Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts exhibit significant effects, suggesting regional variations. These findings highlight the importance of considering regional dynamics when evaluating the impact of expenditure on employment within the MGNREGA program. The study contributes to the existing literature by offering insights into expenditure patterns and their effectiveness in program implementation.

Keywords

MGNREGA; Employment in MGNREGA; Efficiency of MGNREGA; Expenditure in MGNREGA; MGNREGA in West Bengal

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