Impact of MGNREGA on the Participating Households: A Study in Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

This paper, based on both secondary and primary data, tries to analyse the impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on the income and expenditure of the participating households. Another objective of this paper is to have an overview of the quality of assets created under this scheme. Results show that although participation in the MGNREGA work depends on the choice of the workers, the participation of every household has become mandatory due to the unique culture followed by the Adi tribe in the study area. However, employment generated under this scheme is not satisfactory. As the wage rate under this programme is lower than the market wage rate, the younger generation is not interested in taking up works. MGNREGA has no significant impact on the income and expenditure of the participating households. The assets created under the priority list of work are beneficial and satisfy the needs of the locality. However, most of the assets created under focus area work failed to fulfil the needs of society and lie defunct. Thus, local-level planning for reflecting the needs of the locality is necessary.