MGNREGA in the Drought-Affected Talukas in Karnataka: Lessons for the COVID-19 Induced Calamity and Reverse Migration

This article examines the performance of MGNREGA in select drought-affected talukas of Karnataka during the drought years and crisis situations. Furthermore, drawing from the past comparative performances in the drought- and the non-drought-affected talukas, this study attempts to identify MGNREGA’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunity in view of the unprecedented COVID-19-driven reverse migration. The evidence shows that drought-affected talukas, particularly in the poorest regions, show strong positive responses to MGNREGA and utilise programme funds. However, lack of standing instructions and automatic applicability of enhanced entitlement and the cumbersome process of fund release impose limits on the accelerated benefits to the aspiring households. Funds to meet the increased demand for work during the crisis periods require significant high order grant releases to avoid rationing. But MGNREGA may be an unequal match for humongous calamities like COVID-19 that induced the return of large hordes of migrant workers to some of the poorest regions in the country. Crises of such magnitude require swifter and proportionate responses like the special programme Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan conceived by the central government.