Socio-Economic Impact of MGNREGA – A Paradigm shift with special reference to women senior citizens

Abstract

Rural development has emerged as a significant concern for governments characterized by a substantial rural populace, prompting the implementation of diverse initiatives aimed at fostering the advancement of impoverished and marginalized individuals residing in rural regions. The significance of rural regions in the development of countries such as India requires little substantiation, as it is apparent from the strategic focus of government programmes that rural areas serve as catalysts for the nation's progress. These initiatives have been designed to harness the available resources for the purpose of improving the living conditions and overall well-being of the rural population. A considerable proportion of those experiencing poverty in India are mostly located in rural regions and heavily rely on wage labour as their primary means of sustenance. The government has consistently implemented various public works projects and social security measures in order to alleviate the hardships faced by individuals and improve their circumstances. The Act has been implemented nationwide to ensure the provision of job opportunities for rural communities, hence promoting sustainable livelihood support at the community level. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which was passed in 2005, is a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at providing a legal assurance of 100 days of employment to individuals living in rural areas who face limited capacity to bear risks, have poor creditworthiness to engage in self-employment endeavors, and exhibit a strong inclination towards wage labour. A random selection approach was used to choose a sample of 200 women senior citizen for inclusion in the research, so ensuring the attainment of representative findings.