Wage employment: Impact of MGNREGS in Bardhaman, West Bengal

Abstract

In this paper, we study the impact of MGNREGS on the beneficiaries and analyse potential management problems of the implementing agencies in Bardhaman, a relatively prosperous district of West Bengal. Analysis of official documents and primary data collection in all blocks over a period of three years indicates that Bardhaman has been successful in addressing the challenges of running the scheme. However, because of available alternative employment opportunities, conducting MGNREGS matching the Annual Action Plan is a serious challenge to the GPs. The local people look for less labour intensive schemes, and political parties pressurise Gram Panchayats to initiate popular errands which makes it difficult to match village needs with demands.