Transforming Rural India MGNREGA as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Change

  • Unique Paper ID: 171434
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 7
  • PageNo: 3239-3244
  • Abstract:
  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as a transformative policy instrument in India, addressing rural poverty and unemployment while fostering inclusive growth. Enacted in 2005, MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households, empowering marginalized communities and promoting sustainable development. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of MGNREGA as a catalyst for social and economic change in rural India. It explores how the program has contributed to income security, gender empowerment, asset creation, and infrastructure development, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods. The study also evaluates the program’s role in reducing migration, improving food security, and promoting social equity through participatory governance. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, the paper highlights success stories and identifies challenges in implementation, such as delays in wage payments, corruption, and inefficiencies. Recommendations for policy improvements are provided to enhance program effectiveness. This research underscores MGNREGA’s potential as a model for inclusive rural development and concludes with strategies to scale its impact, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2025 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{171434,
        author = {DR.S.TAMILMANI},
        title = {Transforming Rural India MGNREGA as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Change},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2024},
        volume = {11},
        number = {7},
        pages = {3239-3244},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=171434},
        abstract = {The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as a transformative policy instrument in India, addressing rural poverty and unemployment while fostering inclusive growth. Enacted in 2005, MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households, empowering marginalized communities and promoting sustainable development. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of MGNREGA as a catalyst for social and economic change in rural India. It explores how the program has contributed to income security, gender empowerment, asset creation, and infrastructure development, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods. The study also evaluates the program’s role in reducing migration, improving food security, and promoting social equity through participatory governance. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, the paper highlights success stories and identifies challenges in implementation, such as delays in wage payments, corruption, and inefficiencies. Recommendations for policy improvements are provided to enhance program effectiveness. This research underscores MGNREGA’s potential as a model for inclusive rural development and concludes with strategies to scale its impact, ensuring long-term sustainability.},
        keywords = {MGNREGA, Rural Development, Social Equity, Economic Growth, Employment Guarantee, Sustainable Development},
        month = {December},
        }

Cite This Article

  • ISSN: 2349-6002
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 7
  • PageNo: 3239-3244

Transforming Rural India MGNREGA as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Change

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