Impact of MGNREGA on economic conditions of tribal community
 
Deviishee Sodhi*
Studdent, Class 11th, Welham Girls School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: deviishee.sodhi07@gmail.com
Abstract- It is the purpose of this study to examine how the MGNREGA has affected the financial situations of India's indigenous tribal people. Established in 2005, MGNREGA seeks to improve livelihood stability by offering rural families a minimum of 100 days of pay work annually. Examining the program's effects on the economic well-being of tribal populations—among India's most marginalised groups—is the primary goal of this research. This study employs a mixed-methods strategy, drawing on both quantitative data culled from official reports and household surveys and qualitative insights gleaned from in-depth interviews and focus groups held throughout specific tribal areas. Income, spending habits, availability of basic services, and general livelihood security are some of the most important metrics tracked. Initial results indicate that MGNREGA has helped tribal communities economically by lowering migration, increasing access to basic services, and providing stable work. On the other hand, problems including late payments, poor implementation, and beneficiaries not knowing about their rights are also highlighted in the report. Better administration, more community involvement, and individualised interventions to meet the specific requirements of tribal communities are some of the policy suggestions made in the paper's last section, which aims to improve MGNREGA's performance in tribal regions. The crucial role of employment initiatives in reshaping the economic landscape of India’s tribal tribes is highlighted in this research, which intends to add to the wider conversation on rural development and social fairness.
Keywords- MGNREGA, economic condition, tribal community.
INTRODUCTION
Foundational to India's strategy for rural development is the 2005 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). One of the biggest social security programmes in the world, the legislation ensures that every family in rural regions would have access to 100 days of paid work every year, helping to improve livelihood stability. Employment for the rural poor is an urgent priority for MGNREGA, which also aims to promote sustainable development by building long-lasting assets and infrastructure. This two-pronged strategy seeks to both ease rural residents' financial hardships and set the stage for their continued success in the future. When considering India's indigenous populations, the impact of MGNREGA becomes much more apparent. Despite making up about 8.6% of the population, tribal people have long been socially and economically excluded. People living in these areas typically face significant challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, basic amenities, and economic possibilities, as well as ecological fragility. Land alienation, relocation as a result of development projects, and absence of political participation are some of the causes that exacerbate the structural disadvantages that indigenous populations experience. There is a correlation between tribal areas and greater rates of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition when compared to the national average.
The MGNREGA programme may help tribal people with a number of pressing problems. Reduce poverty and food insecurity via providing a guaranteed source of income. Water conservation projects, roads, and irrigation facilities are all examples of rural infrastructure that may greatly enhance agricultural output and market access. For tribal regions, where natural resource-based agriculture is the main means of subsistence, this infrastructure development is of the utmost importance. In addition, many tribal cultures' traditional forms of government are compatible with MGNREGA's decentralised planning and focus on community involvement. In order to encourage local self-governance and accountability, the legislation requires Gramme Sabhas (village assemblies) to be included in the process of planning and monitoring activities. This participatory approach aims to improve the relevance and efficacy of MGNREGA activities by making sure they are need-based and reflect local concerns.
Notwithstanding these advantages, there are a number of obstacles to implementing MGNREGA in tribal regions. Important roadblocks include inefficient bureaucracy, wage payment delays, and tribal population ignorance about the plan. Programme delivery also has to be more nuanced and context-specific to account for the particular socio-cultural dynamics of tribal groups, such their collective decision-making procedures and customary land rights. Both the quality of the assets produced and the longevity of the jobs provided by the initiative are sources of worry.
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of MGNREGA on the livelihoods of India's indigenous peoples. In terms of revenue production, employment trends, and asset accumulation, it aims to assess the program's efficacy in tribal areas. This research takes a mixed-methods approach, meaning that it uses both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data comes from secondary sources like government records and household surveys, while the qualitative data comes from fieldwork like interviews and focus groups with stakeholders and beneficiaries. The study aims to do three things: first, find out how much of an improvement in tribal households' economic conditions MGNREGA has been; second, find out what obstacles have been in the way of the program's effective implementation in tribal areas; and third, suggest some policies that would make MGNREGA even more of a boon to tribal development. With discussions in India continuing over the merits of social security programmes and the need of more equitable development plans, this study couldn't be more pertinent and urgent.
This research helps fill a gap in our knowledge by examining the tribal context and the ways in which national policies intersect with local reality and the unique requirements of oppressed groups. It emphasises the significance of social protection programmes being customised to fit the specific cultural and socioeconomic circumstances of the people they are intended to help. Policymakers, practitioners, and development organisations in India aiming for inclusive and sustainable rural development should pay close attention to the implications of this research's results. The introduction provides a thorough history of MGNREGA, the socio-economic difficulties experienced by tribal groups, and the program's capacity to alleviate these issues. It also defines the scope and relevance of the research. An in-depth examination of one of India's most expansive social security programmes and its effects on a particularly vulnerable group will be presented in the next parts of the article, which will cover the methodology, results, and policy implications.
After gaining independence, our country has tried to implement a number of policies aimed at helping indigenous communities develop economically, increase employment opportunities, and decrease poverty. However, these efforts have so far been unsuccessful, and the problems that these communities face persist. Up to 513 distinct tribal groups call India home. The scheduled tribes (ST) made up 8.6% of India's overall population in 2011, according to the country's official census. India is home to a sizable indigenous population, second only in size to that of some African nations. We cannot conceive of progress as a process without considering its social and economic components. For a community to progress as a whole, it must establish policies and programmes to ensure the well-being of its most vulnerable members. Adult members of rural households who are willing to work related to unskilled manual labour at a statutory minimum salary of Rs. 100 per day are legally guaranteed one hundred days of employment per fiscal year via the MGNREGA scheme. A better living for India's rural masses, a historically oppressed population, is possible thanks to this plan, which alters several aspects of tribal existence. Although the majority of tribes and schedule castes participate in MGNREGS, the scheme's primary objective is rural development. The government has been prioritising this programme to improve the lives of historically oppressed groups, such as indigenous communities. Authorities at the federal and state levels have taken notice of the tribal communities' severe lack of resources and level of education. While India was a colony of the British, the government there launched a number of social and economic programmes to help the indigenous population. Nothing has changed despite many panels and legislative initiatives. Despite several attempts, the tribes have not been able to secure adequate protection against exploitation or make progress in their socioeconomic development. However, there are a lot of initiatives that are trying to help the country's indigenous communities. One of the primary goals of this plan is to alleviate poverty within the tribal group by encouraging migration.
Since our nation gained its independence a decade ago, the federal government and individual states have implemented a variety of programmes meant to aid in the economic development of indigenous communities. However, despite these efforts, we have seen little improvement in areas such as migration, unemployment, and poverty. Up to 513 distinct tribal groups call India home. According to the 2011 census, 8.6% of India's total population identified as belonging to a scheduled tribe (ST). India is home to a sizable indigenous population, second only in size to that of some African nations. Social and economic considerations are integral to any discussion of development as a process. Any community's long-term plans must include measures to improve the lives of those on the margins. Adult members of rural households who are willing to work related to unskilled manual labour at a statutory minimum salary of Rs. 100 per day are guaranteed one hundred days of employment per fiscal year via the MGNREGA scheme. A better living for India's rural masses, a historically oppressed population, is possible thanks to this plan, which alters several aspects of tribal existence. The majority of tribes next to the schedule caste are not actively participating in the MGNREGS, despite the fact that this system was primarily created for rural development. The government's emphasis on marginalised groups, such as the tribal community, falls under the umbrella of "inclusion groups," and this programme has been essential in improving the quality of life for indigenous people. Authorities at the federal and state levels have taken notice of the tribal communities' severe lack of resources and educational opportunities. While India was a colony of the British, the government there launched a number of social and economic programmes to help the indigenous population. Nothing has changed despite many panels and legislative initiatives. A lot of development projects that were supposed to assist the tribes avoid exploitation and advance economically have not worked out the way they were supposed to. Nonetheless, a number of initiatives are working to improve the lives of indigenous peoples around the nation. The reduction of poverty among tribal communities is one of the primary goals of this strategy, which also aims to encourage migration.
LITERATURE OF REVIEW
Sharma et al. (2023) the purpose of this research paper is to examine the impact of the MGNREGA Act of 2005 on the economic and social conditions of the ST communities in the Raigarh districts. Households in rural areas are guaranteed 100 days of work under the MGNREGA Act. To enhance the living standards of rural residents, this system mandates that each state's governing bodies devise their own unique plans to provide employment. When seen through the lens of legislation, it becomes clear that MGNREGA really is a people's programme. With this plan, we want to "give work to every hand and provide price to every work," the overarching goal.
Sahu et al. (2023) The present research was place in the Baster District of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, specifically in the three blocks known as Jagdalpur, Bastar, and Bakawand. Researchers have looked at how MGNREGA has affected the economic security and labour mobility of indigenous communities. The 370 informants that participated in this research were all tiny, marginal, landless farmers. We were able to determine the overall number of beneficiaries and workers by going block-by-block using the MGNREGA official open-source document. It was necessary to complete a pilot study before moving on to the indicators' final testing. Monthly income, labour mobility, and savings capacity were the three primary factors examined in the MGNREGA plan. There has been a noticeable shift in all the metrics, with informants reporting a 34.6% increase in their monthly income from Rs. 10001 to 15000 compared to before the plan was put into place. The MGNREGA scheme's expansion into tribal areas also led to a decrease in labour migration. For the Bakawand block, where differences of 64.6% were observed, the p-value of the labour migration indicator was 0.06 at the 5% significant level. Contrary to expectations, the emigration of workers was much lower than the average for the block. It is arguable that this programme of guaranteed employment contributes to the attainment of sustainable development objectives.
Ahmad et al. (2021) both economically and in terms of population, India is rapidly expanding. The current population of India is estimated at 1,380,004,385 people, or 17.7 percent of the total global population, according to statistics from the United Nations. With a population second only to China's, this nation is particularly hard hit by the global poverty and unemployment crises. The Indian government has periodically launched rural development programmes in an effort to address these issues, but so far, they have failed miserably. One of the biggest and most ambitious anti-poverty, demand-driven employment guarantee schemes from the government of India is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, more often known as (MGNREGA). Jammu and Kashmir, like the other union territories and states, has embraced MGNERAGA as a tool for rural development and job creation inside the union territory. The purpose of this research is to highlight the positive social and economic effects of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on the rural residents of Awoora gramme panchayat in Phalgam Block, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir.
Gautam et al. (2020) as the foundation of India's poverty, the scheduled tribal people encounter a tremendous obstacle in delivering social justice. Even though they live on the same property as everyone else, they often lack access to basic public services. The purpose of this study is to examine how the MGNREGA programme has helped alleviate poverty and improve people's living conditions in Himachal Pradesh. The study's overarching goal is to raise living standards in tribal communities by filling in some of the gaps in the current body of knowledge. To aid in the quest of sustainable development and the welfare of the tribal people, it will serve as a useful resource for administrators and planners by documenting best practices for future developmental programmes. The study is conducted with the intention of filling up current knowledge gaps and offering useful data for development initiatives in the future.
Shinde et al. (2018) the amount of tribal engagement in MGNREGS is going to be the central subject of this article. This research relies only on secondary sources that have been subjected to statistical analysis with a focus on tribal populations in order to draw conclusions about the contributions of different schemes that have been put in place to aid in the development of India's indigenous peoples. India is home to at least 513 distinct ethnic groups. A total of 8.6% of India's population identified as belonging to scheduled tribes (ST) in the 2011 census. Following Africa in the number of nations with a sizable indigenous population is India. Socioeconomic considerations are integral to any discussion of development as a process. For a community to progress as a whole, it must establish policies and programmes to ensure the well-being of its most vulnerable members. Adult members of rural households who are willing to work related to unskilled manual labour at a statutory minimum salary of Rs. 100 per day are legally guaranteed one hundred days of employment per fiscal year via the MGNREGA scheme.
OBJECTIVE
METHODOLOGY
The current study relies on secondary materials culled from journals, articles, books, and research papers. There has been a lot of writing on this topic in academic journals, government papers, online resources, and books, with an emphasis on secondary sources that use statistical analysis to draw conclusions about MGNREGS and tribal development.
MGNREGS: AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL SERVICE FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT
The MGNREGS was formerly known as the Page Scheme, after its namesake chairman of the State Legislative Council, V.S. Page, and started as a pilot project in the Tasgaon Block of the Sangli district in Maharashtra in 1965. It was an employment guarantee initiative. After being extended to eleven more districts on May 1, 1972, the plan was quickly implemented statewide, although it was temporarily halted from 1972 to 1974. After that, on January 26, 1979, it was resurrected with legislative backing by way of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act of 1977. The following national rural employment schemes were implemented: the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) from 1980 to 1989, the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) from 1983 to 1989, the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) from 1989 to 1990, the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) from 1993 to 1999, the Jawahar Gramme Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) from 1999 to 2002, the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) from 2001 onwards, and the National Food For Work Programme (NFFWP) from 2004 onwards. The NREGA was created in 2005 by the merger of the SGRY and the NFFWP. Every rural family with willing adult members was guaranteed 100 days of employment each year for unskilled manual labour under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which was launched on February 2, 2006. The program's goals were to increase buying power, decrease distress migration, and generate valuable assets in rural regions. The major objective of the programme is to decrease rural unemployment, poverty, and migration; it will initially encompass 200 of India's most underdeveloped districts.
MGNREGS AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
The forest is being cut down for industrial development and new metropolitan areas, which threatens the traditional way of life of many indigenous peoples. As a result, many indigenous peoples are fleeing to the countryside in search of better economic opportunities. This study aims to assess the degree to which MGNREGS has done its job of ensuring the survival of tribal communities in India, a country where tribalism is pervasive, by analysing the program's execution and the effects it has had on tribal development and their way of life. The research will show the extent to which MGNREGA has affected certain tribal indicators. The original intent of this plan has been destroyed by the flawed approach to implementing it. The initiative has had significant challenges, including prejudice in the issuance of employment cards based on religion or street cred, the influence of powerful families, ineffective leadership, and a lack of cooperation among the program's partners. Of the total participants under this plan, 59.82 (or 17% of the total) were tribal people, according to the 2012 MGNARGA report. Also included in this report is an effort to gauge the extent to which indigenous communities have participated in the MGNREGA programme. The primary goals of this plan are to end poverty, reduce migration, and provide jobs for those living in rural areas. There are a lot of tribal people who have been living in rural areas for a long time, and these projects are playing a crucial role in helping them improve their standard of living and other aspects of rural development. The majority of rural residents are living below the poverty line, there are few job opportunities, and many are leaving the area in search of work in the nearby cities, despite the fact that the government has launched a variety of programmes aimed at improving their lot. This paper's goal is to detail the many ways in which this plan has affected rural tribal communities, both directly and indirectly.
SPENDING ON THE MGNREGA PROGRAMME
From 2019 through 2023, the budget is broken down into the following table.
Sr. No
Year
Amount in cores
% Increased
1
2019-20
30000
285.49
2
2020-2021
39000
396.02
3
2021-2022
40100
354.87
4
2022-2023
40000
353.98
 
The following table details the annual budgeted expenditures for MGNREGS as approved by the government. The budget for 2019–20 was just Rs.30,000, which climbed by 285.49, while the budget for 2020–21 was Rs.39,000, an increase of 396.02. The authorised amount of Rs. 40,100 in the fiscal year 2021–22 rose by 354.87. It is good to see that the budget for MGNREGS is increasing year, since the amount given in 2022–23 was Rs.40,000, a rise of 353.98. This research highlights the need for an annual budget increase in the event of financial outlays.
Tribal Participation under MGNREGS
Year
Total (in Lakh)
S.T.
%
2017-2018
9050.54
32.98
36%
2018-2019
14367.95
42.07
29%
2019-2020
21632.86
55.02
25%
2020-2021
28332.2
58.74
21%
2021-2022
25715.25
39.59
18%
2022-2023
21142.04
26.59
16%
 
The following table displays the annual percentage of tribe participation in the MGNREGA. There were 32.98% and 36% indigenous peoples out of the total population that participated from 2017 to 2018. Out of the total population, 42.07 and 29 percent were tribal people in the following year, 2018–19. Out of the entire population, 55.02 and 25% were indigenous people who participated in this plan from 2019 to 2020. Out of the entire population, 58.74% were tribe members, and 21% took part between 2020 and 2021. From 2021 to 2022, a total of 39.59 people, or 18% of the population, were involved. From 2022 to 2023, 26.59 out of every 100,000 indigenous people (or 16% of the total population) were enrolled in this programme. There were years when tribal involvement was high and years when it was low.
CONCLUSION
Tribal people in India have seen considerable improvements to their economic situations as a result of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). home income among tribal communities has increased significantly thanks to MGNREGA, which guarantees 100 days of employment each fiscal year to every rural home with adult members ready to undertake unskilled manual labour. As a result, fewer tribal families are forced to leave their homelands in search of better economic opportunities, enabling them to maintain their traditional way of life. Additionally, the plan has helped local economies grow by enhancing Infrastructure and community resources and allowing for the establishment of long-lasting assets in indigenous regions. In addition to empowering indigenous women, MGNREGA has increased their employment participation, which improves gender equality in these areas. Despite several implementation issues, MGNREGA has had a good influence on the tribal community as a whole, helping to reduce poverty, strengthen the economy, and enhance people's quality of life. This analysis highlights the significance of ongoing funding and improvement of the plan to fill up the gaps and guarantee long-term prosperity for India's indigenous communities.
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