Impact Assessment on Attainment of Social Status by MGNREGA Beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu

More than 60 per cent of total workforce in the country derives their livelihood from agriculture and high dependency on agriculture has caused decrease in per capita household income from farm sector and mechanization in agricultural production has resulted in lesser employment in the rural areas and causes poverty among the rural masses. MGNREGA is regarded as the largest public employment programme in the world, assures 100 days of work per year to all rural households. A sample size of 200 Beneficiaries with 40 Beneficiaries from each village was selected for the study. In Salem district Panamarathupatty block were purposively selected. The weighted mean score were analysed for each component and ranked based on the weighted mean scores. The results of overall attainment of social status of beneficiaries, shows that in personal status two-fifth of the beneficiaries (40.00 per cent) had high level followed by 35.50 per cent had medium level and one-fourth of the beneficiaries (24.50 per cent) had low level of attainment in personal status. In economic status majority of the beneficiaries (88.50 per cent) falls on medium to high level. The most of the beneficiaries (76.00 per cent) in the study area attained medium to high level of societal status in the society, the MGNREGA beneficiaries participate more in the panchayat programmes, discussion on new projects and planning of welfare activities in the panchayat. The scheme has a positive impact on the livelihood of wage labourers in the rural areas and it improves the socio-economic status of the unskilled workers in the village and also contributed to the non- migration of village unskilled workers to urban areas. The MGNREGA has made tangible impact on the livelihood of the people and empowered women to a large extend.