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

Mr. Jeet Saha; Dr. Zafar Iqubal

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

Submit Manuscript Login / Register Subscribe

Home Page

Editorial Board Members

Mission, Aims & Scope

Current Issue

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

Jeet Saha, Zafar Iqubal

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

Article has been added to the cart.View Cart (0)

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

Akhtar, S. J., & Azeez, N. A (2020). An econometric analysis of determinants of employment guarantee scheme. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf m?abstract_id=3523107.
Bhatia, B., & Dreze, J. (2006). Employment guarantee in Jharkhand: Ground realities. Economic and Political Weekly, 41(29), 3198-3202.
Bhattacharyya, A. (2023, March 2). Scrap app-based attendance system, demand NREGA workers and activists. Retrieved https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/scrap-app-based-attendance-system-demand-nrega-workers-and-activists.
Bishnoi, S., Rampal, V. K., & Meena, H. R. (2015). Constraints experienced by women work force in MNREGA in Punjab and Rajasthan, India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 49(3), 286-289.
Chandra, G. (2015). A study on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act opportunity and the corruption (MGNREGA). International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS), 2(1), 43-45.
Deka, T., & Panda, B. (2015). Employment generation and social capital formation: A study of the impact of MGNREGA in Assam. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 6(11), 7619-7626.
Desai, S., Vashishtha, P., & Joshi, O. (2015). Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: A catalyst for rural transformation. Working Papers id: 7259, eSocialSciences. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ess/wpaper/id7259.html.
Dey, D. K. (2016). Employment generation and asset building through MGNREGA: reflections from West Bengal. Journal of Rural Development, 35(1), 51-76.
Jacob, N. (2008). The impact of NREGA on rural-urban migration: Field survey of Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu. New Delhi: Centre for Civil Society. Retrieved from https://www.cppr.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/NREGA_Paper-Naomi.pdf.
Katoch, S., Guleria, A., Singh, P., & Prasher, R. S. (2020). Impact assessment of MGNREGA on employment generation, labour supply in the agriculture sector and migration: A case study. Indian Journal of Economics and Development, 16(4), 613-618.
Khera, R. & Nayak, N. (2009). Women workers and perceptions of the national rural employment guarantee act. Economic and Political Weekly, 44(43), 49-57.
Kundu, S. (2016). Rural wages in India: Recent trends and determinants. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 59(2), 217-244.
Malangmeih, L., Bhattacharyya, K., & Mitra, A. (2014). Impact of MGNREGA on livelihood security of rural households: a case study in Bankura district of West Bengal State, India. Economic Affairs, 59(2), 137-146.
Maruthi, I., & Peter, P. (2018). Factors influence to participate in MGNREGA work: A case study in Shettihalli GP in Karnataka. Journal of Economic Policy and Research, 13(2), 47-56.
Reimeingam, M. (2016). MGNREGA job sustainability and poverty in Sikkim. Working paper no. 374, Institute for Social and Economic Change. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/p/sch/wpaper/374.html.
Roy, S., & Singh, B. (2010). Impact of NREGA on empowerment of the beneficiaries in West Bengal. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 10(2), 21-24.
Shah, D. K., & Mohanty, S. (2010). Implementation of NREGA during eleventh plan in Maharashtra: Experiences, challenges and ways forward. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 65(3), 540-551.
Singh, S. (2023, February 17). No CAG audit of major schemes in W.B. since 2011 says RTI activist. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/no-cag-audit-of-major-schemes-in-wb-since-2011-says-rti-activist/article66517391.ece.
Turangi, S. (2022). MGNREGS performance (2006–21): An inter-state analysis. South Asia Research, 42(2), 208-232.