Socio-economic impact of mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee act on its beneficiaries in Kakching district of Manipur

Introduction

In India, majority of the population live in rural areas and many of them suffer owing to seasonal unemployment, under employment and disguised unemployment. Unemployment and poverty are strongly related and hinder the economic growth and development of the country. To overcome above mentioned weaknesses of past employment programmes, Government of India, passed National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in 25 August 2005 to empower the rural labourers with right to get employment of 100 days. In accordance, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has been launched in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on 2nd February, 2006, with effect from 1st April 2006 in 200 drought prone and backward districts in India. This was extended to additional 130 districts in the financial year 2007-2008. On October 2, 2009, the Government of India renamed its flagship rural employment guarantee scheme, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Under this Act, Manipur State created the Manipur Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 2006 (MREGS) as part of this statute. According to a directive from the Indian government's ministry of rural development, MREGS has now been renamed NREGS, Manipur. On April 13, 2006, at the district office in Tamenglong, Manipur, the programme was introduced in its initial phase. The Honourable Chief Minister of Manipur distributed employment cards to candidates in order to register them. The following two districts, Churachandpur and Chandel, were added to the Act during the 2007-2008 fiscal year, and the other six districts-Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati, while Ukhrul-were covered during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The programme was progressively expanded to include all of India's districts, totalling 619 throughout the length and width of the nation. The programme is carried out as a federally funded programme with a 90:10 cost-sharing split between the federal government and the state. On May 25, 2009, the Act was announced in the Manipur Gazette Extraordinary. With effect from October 2, 2009, the programme is now known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Keeping in view of these scopes, a study entitled "Socio-Economic Impact of Mahatma Gandhi www.extensionjournal.com National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on its Beneficiaries in Kakching District, Manipur" was undertaken with the objective to Socio-economic impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on its beneficiaries.

Methodology

The present study was conducted in Kakching district of Manipur state during the year 2022-2023. Two blocks i.e., Kakching and Langmeidong blocks were selected. From each of the selected blocks, three villages each from one block were selected randomly for the study. Total of six village with 16 beneficiaries from Keirak village, 19 beneficiaries from Wabagai village, 21 beneficiaries from Irengband village, 21 beneficiaries from Hiyanglam village, 22 beneficiaries from Langmeidong village and 21 beneficiaries from Waikhong village were selected through stratified random sampling method thus comprising total 120 beneficiaries of MGNREGA for research study. For estimating the Socio-economic impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on its beneficiaries in Kakching district, Manipur. Ex-post facto research design was adopted in this study. The data were collected with the help of pretested interview schedule. The socioeconomic impact of MGNREGA on its beneficiaries was studied on a three-point range i.e., low, medium and high impact. The scores 1, 2 and 3 were assigned respectively. The total score ranged from "6" to "18", the minimum and maximum obtainable scores for occupational change, saving pattern change and material possession change, "7" to "21", the minimum and maximum obtainable scores for educational change, expenditure change and socio-political participation change, "8" to "24", the minimum and maximum obtainable scores for employment generation change and lastly "9" to "27", the minimum and maximum obtainable scores for annual income change. The beneficiaries were divided into groups based on mean and standard deviation. Using pretested schedule, information was collected through personal interview. The statistical methods and tests such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used for the analysis of data.

Results and Discussion

Socio-economic impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on its beneficiaries • Educational change

It was observed that the Table1 that, half (50.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium educational change categories, followed by 37.5 percent of them in high and 12.5 percent of them were in low educational change category before the participation of the MGNREGA scheme. After the participation of the MGNREGA scheme, more than half (65.0%) of the MGNREGA beneficiaries had in medium educational change categories, followed by 25.0 percent of them in high and 10.0 percent of them were in low educational change category. According to MGNREGA beneficiaries in the research region, the drop ratio has been significantly decreased since the MGNREGA scheme was implemented as an extra source of income for beneficiaries' families. As a result, the majority of MGNREGA beneficiaries offered educational opportunities for their children. It was observed from the below table that, most of the beneficiaries are having medium impact of MGNREGA on educational change.

• Occupational change

It was observed from the Table1 that, more than half (52.5%) of the beneficiaries had in medium occupational change categories, followed by 33.3 percent of them in low and 14.2 percent of them were in high occupational change category before the participation of the scheme. After participation of the MGNREGA scheme, three fourth (70.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium occupational change categories, followed by 20.8 percent of them in high and 9.2 percent of them were in low occupational change category. This shift might be due to improved occupational opportunities for MGNREGA beneficiaries. It was observed from the below table that, drastic occupational changes observed after participation of MGNREGA scheme and most of the beneficiaries were having medium impact of MGNREGA on occupational change.

• Annual income change It was observed from the Table1 that, more than half (53.3%) of the beneficiaries had in medium annual income change categories, followed by 26.7 percent of them in low and 20.0 percent of them were in high annual income change category before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (59.2%) of the beneficiaries had in medium annual income change categories, followed by 30.0 percent of them in high and 10.8 percent of them were in low annual income change category. It is possible to conclude that before participating in the MGNREGA scheme, the total income of the beneficiaries from traditional crop production was insufficient to cover their basic necessities. However, after participating in MGNREGA, the increased employment produced by the scheme resulted in considerable changes in the yearly per capita income of MGNREGA beneficiaries. It was observed that from the below table that, most of the beneficiaries were having medium impact of MGNREGA on annual income change.

• Saving pattern change It was observed from the Table1 that, nearly half (46.7%) of the beneficiaries had in medium saving pattern change categories, followed by 30.0 percent and 24.3 percent of them were in low and high saving pattern change category respectively before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (54.2%) of the beneficiaries had in medium saving pattern change categories and 35.8 percent of them in high saving pattern change category and 10.0 percent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries from low saving pattern change. It could be concluded that, before participation of MGNREGA scheme total income of the beneficiaries was not enough for their basic needs and no scope for saving. The shift in MGNREGA beneficiaries' saving patterns after MGNREGA participation may be related to an increase in yearly income and a change in educational of their children as a result of employment generation. It was observed from the below table that, most of the MGNREGA beneficiaries were having medium impact of MGNREGA on saving pattern change.

• Expenditure change It was observed from the Table1 that, more than half (55.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium expenditure change categories, followed by 35.0 percent and 10.0 percent of them were in low and high expenditure change category respectively before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (63.4%) of the beneficiaries had in medium expenditure change categories and 25.8 percent of them in high expenditure change category and 10.8 percent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries from low expenditure change. It might be argued that the shift in beneficiaries of MGNREGA to increase expenditure after participation in MGNREGA is related to an increase in income due to job creation. It was observed from below table that, most of the beneficiaries were having medium impact of MGNREGA on expenditure change.

• Material possession change

It was observed from the Table1 that, half (50.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium material possession change categories, followed by 42.5 percent of them in low and 7.5 percent of them were in high material possession change category before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (65.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium material possession change categories and 18.3 percent of them in low material possession change category and 16.7 percent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries from high material possession change. In terms of material possession, it was noticed that after participating in the MGNREGA scheme, there was a shift in their life, such as luxuries such as colour television, electricity, cattle, mobile phones, motor cycles, and their housing pattern, which improved their level of living. This rise might be due to an increase in beneficiaries' income as a result of job creation. It was observed from below table that, most of the beneficiaries were having medium impact of MGNREGA on material possession change.

• Socio-political participation change It was found from the Table1 that, more than half (55.8%) of the beneficiaries had in medium socio-political participation change categories, followed by 34.7 percent of them in low and 10.0 percent of them were in high sociopolitical participation change category before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (69.2.0%) of the beneficiaries had in medium socio-political participation change categories and 24.2 percent of them in high and 6.6 percent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries from low socio-political participation change. Beneficiaries had no engagement with social organisations such as Gram Panchayat, Zilla Parishad, or political parties prior to their involvement in the MGNREGA scheme. The participation of MGNREGA beneficiaries in various social programmes, social activities such as social campaigns, and the participation of MGNREGA beneficiaries in various social organisations such as Gram Panchayat, Zilla Parishad, or any political party has increased as a result of the MGNREGA scheme. It was observed from the above table that, drastic sociopolitical participation changes observed after participation of MGNREGA scheme. It was observed from above table that, most of the MGNREGA beneficiaries having medium impact of MGNREGA on socio-political participation change.

• Employment generation change It was observed from the Table1 that, more than half (66.7%) of the beneficiaries had in medium employment generation change categories, followed by 25.0 percent of them in low and 8.3 percent of them were in high employment generation change category before participation of MGNREGA scheme. After participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (73.3%) of the beneficiaries had in medium employment generation change categories and 16.7 percent of them in high and 10.0 percent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries from low employment generation change. This growth in employment might be www.extensionjournal.com caused by policy initiatives and increased Central Government funding allocation. It was observed from the above table that, drastic employment generation changes observed after participation of MGNREGA scheme. It was observed from above table that, most of the beneficiaries having medium impact of MGNREGA on employment generation change. It was observed from the Table2 that, after participation of MGNREGA scheme, more than half (67.5%) of beneficiaries had medium impact, followed by 18.3 per cent and 14.2 per cent of the MGNREGA beneficiaries had low and high overall impact category, respectively. It was observed from above table that, most of the beneficiaries having medium overall impact of MGNREGA on its beneficiaries. The objective of the MGNREGA provides employment and brings the beneficiaries of MGNREGA above poverty line by increasing their annual income. Hence there may be the medium impact of MGNREGA on socio-economic condition of majority of beneficiaries of MGNREGA. In correlation analysis, it was observed from that the independents variables namely education, annual income, land holding, social participation, extension contact, economic motivation was positively and significantly related. with the overall impact of MGNREGA scheme. However, age, family type, family size, occupation could not establish any relationship with overall impact of MGNREGA scheme. It could be observed from Table 12 that co-efficient of determination (R2) of the independent variables was 0.864. It suggested that all the variables jointly contribute 86.4 per cent towards the variation in socio-economic impact of MGNREGA beneficiaries. The F value (69.474) was also found to be significant.

Overall Socio-Economic Impact

Conclusion and Recommendations

The findings of the study was found that, 65.0 percent educational change after participation of MGNREGA in medium category, 70.0 percent occupational change after participation of MGNREGA in medium category, 59.2 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium annual income change category after participation of MGNREGA, 54.2 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries were in medium saving pattern change after participation of MGNREGA, 63.4 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium expenditure change after participation of MGNREGA, 65.0 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium material possession change after participation of MGNREGA, 69.2 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium sociopolitical participation change after participation of MGNREGA, 73.3 percent of MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium employment generation change after participation of MGNREGA scheme. It can be concluded that, majority (67.5%) MGNREGA beneficiaries had medium level of overall socio-economic impact of MGNREGA. It was found that co-efficient of determination (R2) of the independent variables was 0.864. It means that 86.4 per cent of total variation in the overall impact of MGNREGA on its beneficiaries was explained by the selected 10 independent variables. The unexplained variation may be due to the factors not included in the study.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementAbove all, I would like to thank the co-authors for their kind www.extensionjournal.com support and valuable guidance, while conducting the research and revision of this paper. The authors also would like to thank the MGNREGA beneficiaries for sharing their valuable perception and knowledge.

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