This book offers an assessment of the performance, impact, and welfare implications of the world’s largest employment guarantee programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Launched by the Indian government, the programme covers entire rural area of the country. The book presents various micro-level analyses of the programme and its heterogeneous impacts at different scales, almost a decade after its implementation. While there are some doubts over the future of the scheme as well as its magnitude, nature and content, the central government appears committed to it, as a ‘convergence scheme’ of various other welfare and rural development programmes being implemented at both national and state level. The book discusses the outcomes of the programme and offers critical insights into the lessons learnt, not only in the context of India, but also for similar schemes in countries in South and South-East Asia as well as in Africa, and Latin America. Adopting inter-disciplinary perspectives in analysing these issues, this unique book uses a judicious mix of methods---integrating quantitative and qualitative tools---and will be an invaluable resource for analysts, NGOs, policymakers and academics alike.

India's ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act creates a justiciable 'right to work' by promising up to 100 days of employment per year to all rural households whose adult members want unskilled manual work on public works projects at the stipulated minimum wage. Are the conditions stipulated by the Act met in practice, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)? What impact on poverty do the earnings from the scheme have? Does the scheme meet its potential? How can it do better? Right to Work? Assessing India's Employment Guarantee Scheme in Bihar studies the MGNREGS's impact across India, then focuses on Bihar, the country's third largest and one of its poorest states. It shows that although the scheme has the potential to substantially reduce poverty through extra earnings for poor families, that potential is not realized in practice. Workers are not getting all the work they want, nor are they getting the full wages due. The intended recipients' awareness of how to obtain work is low. In a controlled experiment, a specially designed fictional movie was used to show how knowledge of rights and processes can be enhanced. Although the movie effectively raised awareness and improved public perceptions of the scheme, it had little effect on actions such as seeking employment when needed. Supplyside constraints in responding to demand for work must also be addressed. A number of specific constraints to work provision are identified, including poor implementation capacity, weak financial management, and inadequate monitoring systems. Addressing these constraints would allow this major antipoverty program to come much closer to reaching its potential.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a unique initiative in the history of social security-it is not just an employment scheme but also a potential tool of economic and social change in rural areas. This volume presents the first comprehensive account of the 'battle for employment guarantee' in rural India. Staying clear of the propaganda and mud-slinging that has characterized much of the NREGA debate so far, the book presents an informed and authentic picture of the ground realities. The essays are based on field studies of NREGA by a team of researchers who have been actively involved in the campaign for the right to work. They examine a wide-range of issues such as entitlements, corruption, people's perceptions of NREGA, women's empowerment, mobilization of unorganized workers, and socio-economic impact of NREGA. They also provide a comparative analysis of the challenges and successes in the implementation of NREGA in different states including Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Employment Generation Schemes directs attention to challenges and opportunities of enacting direct job creation policies in developing countries and BRICS, including: China, Ghana, Argentina, and India. This exciting new volume investigates how the Job Guarantee might interface with other policy goals.

One of the most enduring ideas in economics is that unemployment is both unavoidable and necessary for the smooth functioning of the economy. This assumption has provided cover for the devastating social and economic costs of job insecurity. It is also false. In this book, leading expert Pavlina R. Tcherneva challenges us to imagine a world where the phantom of unemployment is banished and anyone who seeks decent, living-wage work can find it - guaranteed. This is the aim of the Job Guarantee proposal: to provide a voluntary employment opportunity in public service to anyone who needs it. Tcherneva enumerates the many advantages of the Job Guarantee over the status quo and proposes a blueprint for its implementation within the wider context of the need for a Green New Deal. This compact primer is the ultimate guide to the benefits of one of the most transformative public policies being discussed today. It is essential reading for all citizens and activists who are passionate about social justice and building a fairer economy.

This timely collection will be the first of its kind to focus on the practical application of the government job guarantee (JG) for both developed and developing economies. Global case studies include: United States, China, Ghana, Argentina, Ireland, Iceland, and India.

Empower yourself with knowledge and inspiration with "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" by Annita Ranjan, a groundbreaking exploration of the transformative impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on women's empowerment in India. Join Annita Ranjan as she delves into the profound implications of MGNREGA, a landmark government initiative aimed at providing employment opportunities and social security to rural households. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Ranjan sheds light on the ways in which MGNREGA has empowered women by enhancing their economic independence, social mobility, and political agency. Delve into the themes of gender equality, social justice, and grassroots democracy as Ranjan examines the role of MGNREGA in challenging traditional gender roles and empowering women to take control of their own destinies. From the empowerment of rural women as wage earners to their increased participation in decision-making processes at the local level, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of women's empowerment in rural India. Character analysis focuses on the countless women whose lives have been transformed by MGNREGA, from agricultural laborers and domestic workers to entrepreneurs and community leaders. Through their stories and experiences, readers gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of women's empowerment in India and the vital role that government policies can play in effecting positive change. The overall tone and mood of the book are one of hope, optimism, and empowerment, as Ranjan's insightful commentary and inspiring anecdotes illustrate the transformative power of grassroots activism and social welfare programs. From the bustling streets of rural villages to the corridors of power in New Delhi, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers a compelling and uplifting portrait of a nation on the path to gender equality and social justice. Critically acclaimed for its depth of research, clarity of analysis, and passionate advocacy for women's rights, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" has earned praise from scholars, policymakers, and activists alike for its ability to shed light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Its enduring relevance as a seminal work on women's empowerment in India speaks to its universal appeal and timeless significance. Whether you're a student, scholar, policymaker, or activist, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone interested in promoting gender equality and social justice in India and beyond. Join Annita Ranjan on a journey of discovery and empowerment, and learn how grassroots initiatives like MGNREGA are transforming the lives of women in rural India. Don't miss your chance to be inspired by "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" by Annita Ranjan. Order your copy today and join the movement for gender equality and social justice!

This paper uses a three-round 4,000-household panel from Andhra Pradesh together with administrative data to explore short and medium-term poverty and welfare effects of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Triple difference estimates suggest that participants significantly increase consumption (protein and energy intake) in the short run and accumulate more nonfinancial assets in the medium term. Direct benefits exceed program-related transfers and are most pronounced for scheduled castes and tribes and households supplying casual labor. Asset creation via program-induced land improvements is consistent with a medium-term increase in assets by nonparticipants and increases in wage income in excess of program cost.

This comprehensive book is an attempt to understand the working of the operational part of this act—the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS). The expert contributors to this book have presented evidences of implementation and impact of the scheme across India, including both agriculturally developed states and the backward ones, and states where the scheme is better implemented as well as those where it is not. Their essays go on to explain the meaning, context, issues and development policy implications of MGNREGS through theoretical and empirical papers.