Inclusive Development Through Guaranteed Employment: India's MGNREGA Experiences

This book explores the inclusive development experiences and impacts of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in India. It discusses the theoretical assumptions underlying the scheme and concludes that while it has made a significant contribution, weak local institutions hinder its full exploitation. The book suggests that the experiences gathered with MGNREGS could offer policy change in developing Afro-Asian countries with similar conditions. Its significance in providing social security has increased in the post-COVID era.

Format: Hardback
Length: 313 pages
Publication date: 03 December 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the diverse experiences and profound impacts of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It explores the theoretical foundations underlying the inclusive development of Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), drawing insights from robust data and real-world encounters with MGNREGS, widely recognized as India's most ambitious, rights-based development initiative and the world's largest public works program. Moreover, it is hailed as a people-centric approach to development, offering a unique lens through which to examine its successes and challenges.

The book argues that MGNREGS possesses immense potential, having already made substantial contributions to improving the livelihoods of the most vulnerable among the poor. However, it highlights the limitations of the weak institutions of local-self-governance responsible for implementing the Scheme, preventing them from fully harnessing its potential benefits. The book concludes with a practical policy recommendation: the inclusive development experiences gathered through MGNREGS can serve as a valuable source of policy change in many developing Afro-Asian countries facing similar challenges as India. It emphasizes the importance of considering local conditions when designing EGS to ensure its effective implementation and maximize its impact.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of MGNREGS as a social security measure has grown even more apparent. The loss of jobs and livelihoods has exacerbated the vulnerability of the poor, making MGNREGS an essential lifeline for millions of individuals and families. By providing guaranteed employment and income opportunities, the Scheme has helped mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and promote sustainable development in rural areas.

Overall, this book offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of inclusive development and the role of employment guarantee schemes in addressing poverty and promoting social well-being. Its insights and recommendations will be of interest to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working in the field of development, social welfare, and poverty alleviation.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811574429
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023