Mgnrega and livelihood promotion of rural poor: An empirical study of Odisha

Abstract

Rural development is a process of developing and utilizing natural and human resources, technologies, infrastructure facilities, institutions and organizations, government policies and programs to encourage and speed up economic growth in rural areas to provide jobs and to improve the quality of rural life towards self-sustenance. Its objective is accelerated economic growth with wider participation and most equitable distribution of its gains. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a revolutionary step for the rural poor taken by the Central Government. The MGNREGA scheme was launched in 19 districts of Odisha, in 2006 and extended to other Districts in phased manner and presently covers all 30 districts. Dhenkanal District has been covered in the Scheme in the first phase since 2006, since has a great impact on the social transformation as well as on the livelihoods of poor and marginalized. The Act further aims at creating durable assets strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor. Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to analyze the impact of MGNREGA in livelihood promotion of rural poor in Dhenkanal District of Odisha.