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.

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.

This book addresses topical development issues in India, ranging from land acquisition, poverty alleviation programs, labor market issues, the public-private partnership (PPP) model and fiscal federalism. It offers an Indian perspective on the dynamics of economic development and the impact the country’s legal and public policies have on it. Economic development is a dynamic concept – old problems are solved, while at the same time new issues come to the fore. The emergence of these issues is unique to the development experience of an economy. The book includes sixteen recent contributions and is divided into four sections: law and contract; trade and foreign aid; issues in public economics; and the social sector and poverty alleviation. The chapters reflect on a number of development issues which were of concern for India in the recent past and will be important in her future development initiatives such as land acquisition, agricultural productivity, employment, protection of intellectual property rights, corruption, public-private partnership, regional development, poverty alleviations programs like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the training of self-help group members, health and education of women, to name a few. The book is a valuable reference resource for policy practitioners and researchers working on the economics of development with special focus on developing economies.

This study asseses India s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which is falling well short of its potential impact on poverty in one of India s poorest states, Bihar. Information campaigns are needed to assure that poor people are aware of their rights and the administration of the scheme needs to be more responsive to their needs.

The book assesses the effectiveness of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), initiated by the Indian government in 2005, in reaching its intended beneficiaries-the rural poor-in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. Applying a cross-disciplinary approach, it positions the implementation of NREGA within the larger context of corruption, poverty alleviation, political representation of vulnerable groups, access to information, and community social audits within which it functions.

The historiography of modern India is largely a pageant of presumed virtues: harmonious territorial unity, religious impartiality, the miraculous survival of electoral norms in the world’s most populous democracy. Even critics of Indian society still underwrite such claims. But how well does the “Idea of India” correspond to the realities of the Union? In an iconoclastic intervention, Marxist historian Perry Anderson provides an unforgettable reading of the Subcontinent’s passage through Independence and the catastrophe of Partition, the idiosyncratic and corrosive vanities of Gandhi and Nehru, and the close interrelationship of Indian democracy and caste inequality. The Indian Ideology caused uproar on first publication in 2012, not least for breaking with euphemisms for Delhi’s occupation of Kashmir. This new, expanded edition includes the author’s reply to his critics, an interview with the Indian weekly Outlook, and a postscript on India under the rule of Narendra Modi.

This book examines the inclusive development experiences and impacts of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It discusses the theoretical assumptions underlying the inclusive development of Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), and draws conclusions based on robust data and real-world experiences with the MGNREGS – which has attracted global attention as India’s most ambitious, rights-based development initiative and most expansive work-based social security measure, the world’s largest public works programme, and people-centric approach to development. The book argues that the Scheme holds vast potential, and, in fact, has made significant contribution to the promotion of livelihoods of the poorest of the poor, but that the weak institutions of local-self-governance, entrusted for implementation of the Scheme, are incapable of exploiting them to the full. It ends with a concrete policy suggestion: the inclusive development experiences gathered with the EGS and presented here could offer a source of policy change in many developing Afro-Asian countries whose situations are similar to India’s, provided the local conditions in the respective country are taken into consideration when designing the EGS. Its significance as a social security measure has increased in post-COVID loss of jobs and livelihoods of the poor.

India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is one of the largest public works programs globally. Understanding the impacts of NREGS and the pathway through which its impacts are realized thus has important policy implications. We use 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 NREGS. 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.

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.