Impact of NREGS in Bengaluru Taluka

The study was conducted to know the impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS) in Dharwad taluk of Karnatak state. The registered 270 respondents were equally drawn from five villages selected through multistage sampling method. The study revealed that MGNREGS has reduced migration of workers from rural to urban areas by providing work during slack period in their own villages. The profile of the beneficiaries revealed that most of them were illiterate and less educated labourers as the nature of work itself was suitable to them. MGNREGS also helped to reduce indebtedness, generated purchasing power in the rural local economy, provided extreme protection against poverty, improved economic independence among women and enhanced food security. The study also elicited the problems and it was reported by the beneficiaries that there were no sufficient work site facilities like drinking water, first aid, shed, crèche facility and lack of unemployment allowance. The beneficiaries suggested that wages and number of working days must be increased with the sufficient work site facilities.