Employment Scenario of MGNREGA in Western Maharashtra

The employment scenario under MGNREGA (popularly known as NREGA) has been examined in western Maharashtra with focus on employment guaranteed, works undertaken, strengths, bottlenecks and strategies for strengthening the programme. The study has been done at micro level based on the data available and reports from beneficiaries of the scheme and government officials. It has been observed that only 34 per cent households registered under MNREGS have received job cards in western Maharashtra. This proportion was highest in the Kolhapur district (51–55%). Only 10–15 per cent of households belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes category have received job cards against 75 per cent for the other categories. The actual employment generation has been reported much below 100 days in a year in most of the districts of western Maharashtra, expect Nandurbar district. The works undertaken through MNREGS are rural irrigation, water conservation and harvesting, drought proofing and land development. The study has found MNREGS is a much better scheme than other employment related programmes prevalent in the country.