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20191
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Subject: Agricultural Economics × Author: Ahmed, Syed Rizwan × Start date: 1966 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    Economic Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on Rural Women Labour in Punjab and Karnataka
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Ahmed, Syed Rizwan; Sanjay Kumar
    Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme is to provide at least or more than 100 days of guaranteed employment in financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual labour work. The scheme guaranteed rural women in the economic activity by stipulating minimum 33 per cent participation rate thereby enhancing their livelihood, social, and income security. The present study examined the impact of MGNREGS on rural women labour in Punjab and Karnataka. In order to accomplish the broad objectives, both primary as well as secondary data were used. The secondary data in terms of MGNREGS implementation, revealed that Kerala and Tamil Nadu were higher performing states and Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa were at the lowest. Similarly in Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana were the best performing districts, while the poor performing districts were Pathankot, Patiala. In Karnataka, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Bagalkote were the most efficient districts, while Yadgir, was least efficient district. Impact of MGNREGS on employment, wage income, consumption expenditure, and financial inclusion of rural women labour in Punjab and Karnataka was compared through collecting primary data by selecting Hoshiarpur (Phase I), Nawanshahr (Phase II), and Ludhiana (Phase III) districts from Punjab, and Chitradurga (Phase I), Ballari (Phase II), and Kolar (Phase III) districts from Karnataka. Finally 12 selected villages were selected covering total 300 sample women labourers and the reference period of study was the year 2016-17. Results showed that in Punjab and Karnataka, overall the number of days worked under the MGNREGS were about 51 and 91 days per year, respectively. Annual income of the rural women labourers earned from MGNREGS was Rs. 5753 and Rs. 10536. Annual spending pattern of rural women labour under MGNREGS, on food items and non-food items revealed that in Punjab, after the implementation of MGNREGS, total food expenditure was Rs.12648 and total non-food expenditure was Rs.12383. Similarly in Karnataka, was Rs. 16,964, and Rs. 18,755. Gini co-efficient revealed that MGNREGA helped in improving the income and consumption expenditure after its implementation among the rural women labour thereby reducing the inequality level in study areas. Therefore there is improvement in the distribution of income and consumption expenditure among the beneficiaries due to MGNREGS in Punjab and Karnataka. Financial inclusion aspects reported that use of bank accounts, its account activity has improved moderately. In both states, 43 per cent of account holders obtained pass books and ATM cards. 73 per cent of them take some transport facilities to access to financial services. In Punjab, 51 per cent revealed that they take nearly half day duration of time to visit a bank or post office for completing transaction for depositing and withdrawing of money, whereas 44 per cent in Karnataka. In Punjab, 31 per cent of the respondents revealed that payments get credited to beneficiary account holders within one week, in Karnataka, the response were 55 percent. In Punjab, 23 per cent of them received payments from Government including MGNREGS while in Karnataka, the response were 23 per cent. In Punjab, 22 per cent of them deposits for savings directly in their bank accounts, and in Karnataka, the response were 23 per cent. In Punjab, 30 per cent sourcing of loan was from local money lenders while in Karnataka, the response were 24 per cent. In Punjab, annual savings was Rs. 4350 while in Karnataka, was Rs.6093. In Punjab, major problems faced by the rural women labour participant of MGNREGS were lack of adequate work, While in Karnataka, unnecessary delay in wage payment, and they complained of low wage rates. Likewise unemployment allowance was not paid, lack of childcare facilities and medical aid at work site, presence of social prohibition etc were reported. Suggestion forwarded by them, with regard to smooth and effective functioning of scheme was revealed that more women friendly work and skilled activities are needed to be identified, so that the beneficiaries may get minimum 100 days of employment in a year. Employment in the scheme may be provided more during agriculturally lean seasons. Wage rates may be enhanced and should be provided in time.