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Do Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and convergence measures arrest distress migration? An empirical assessment of the migration-prone regions of Odisha, India

Author

Listed:
  • Narayan Chandra Nayak

    (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur)

  • Bimal Kishore Sahoo

    (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur)

  • Alok Ranjan Mohanty

    (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur)

Abstract

In India, distress migration has always been a matter of grave concern. Such a phenomenon is attributed mainly inter alia to persistent poverty, food insecurity, and lack of employment opportunities. Intending to arrest distress migration, the Government of India introduced Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005. In 2013, the convergence program was introduced. This study, based on the primary survey of 590 households covering some migration-prone districts of Odisha, thus, examines the impact of MGNREGA and associated convergence activities on distress migration. We employ the Mahalanobis Distance Metric matching method to assess the impact on distress migration, including certain economic wellbeing indicators. Anecdotes and empirical results indicate that the MGNREGA and the convergence schemes seem to have been effective in arresting distress migration, thanks to the rise in household incomes. Other notable impacts include a rise in saving propensities, female employment, and food expenditure. Suffice to state that with timely implementation and appropriate targeting, these measures can remove distress migration and make rural women economically empowered. As these schemes are inherently targeted towards the SC and ST households, if executed successfully, these disadvantaged sections will reap the desired benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Narayan Chandra Nayak & Bimal Kishore Sahoo & Alok Ranjan Mohanty, 2023. "Do Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and convergence measures arrest distress migration? An empirical assessment of the migration-prone regions of Odisha, India," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:lsprsc:v:16:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s12076-023-00332-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s12076-023-00332-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Narayan Chandra Nayak & Bimal Kishore Sahoo & Mamata Jenamani & Alok Ranjan Mohanty & Runa Sen Chatterjee, 2021. "Does Convergence of Rural Development Schemes Improve Household Welfare? An Investigation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Odisha, India," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 64(4), pages 1023-1042, December.
    2. repec:iza:izawol:journl:y:2014:p:25 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Jajati Keshari Parida, 2016. "MGNREGS, distress migration and livelihood conditions: a study in Odisha," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 18(1), pages 17-39, October.
    4. Iacus, Stefano M. & King, Gary & Porro, Giuseppe, 2011. "Multivariate Matching Methods That Are Monotonic Imbalance Bounding," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 106(493), pages 345-361.
    5. Sengupta, Anindita, 2013. "Migration, Poverty and Vulnerability in the Informal Labour Market in India," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 36(4), pages 99-116, December.
    6. Benoy Peter & Shachi Sanghvi & Vishnu Narendran, 2020. "Inclusion of Interstate Migrant Workers in Kerala and Lessons for India," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(4), pages 1065-1086, December.
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    8. Gayathri Vasudevan & Shanu Singh & Gaurav Gupta & C. K. Jalajakshi, 2020. "MGNREGA in the Times of COVID-19 and Beyond: Can India do More with Less?," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(3), pages 799-814, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Convergence; Distress migration; Mahalanobis Distance Metric Matching; MGNREGA; Odisha;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

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