Economic development remains the major objective of any economy and rural development is an integral part of overall development programme. Similarly, one of the major objectives of the development planning in India, since independence, is "Growth with social justice". Upliftment of villages has always remained and will continue to remain to be the major area of achievements in all the discussions pertaining to economic growth of the economy. India is country of villages and according to census 2011, about 68.85 percent of its population reside in villages out of which 25.70 percent live below the poverty line. Majority of rural population of India depend on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Creation of employment opportunities in rural areas is affected by the low rate of growth of agricultural sector. The poor, who are at the below subsistence level, largely depend on the wages earned through unskilled casual manual labour. The inadequate labour demand in lean period in agricultural sector and events like natural calamities and personal ill-health, adversely affect the level of employment, income and livelihood of rural population. Employment generation in rural areas, therefore, becomes crucial for reducing poverty. The quantum of unemployment helps to decide the action plan to be framed and followed. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was introduced in Anatpur District of Andhra Pradesh by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on February 2, 2006. NREGA had been renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on the occasion of 50th Anniversary of launching of Panchayati Raj and observing 2009-10 as year of Gram Sabha in New Delhi on 2nd October, 2009.

In order to reduce the level of poverty by providing job opportunities to the rural poor, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) was introduced in 2005 under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005. On 2nd October 2009, NREGA has been renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA). The MGNREGA provides 100 days of guaranteed employment opportunity in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wages prescribed by the government. It is an important step towards the realisation of the Right to Work. It is also expected to enhance people’s livelihoods on a sustainable basis by developing the economic and social infrastructure in rural areas. A social audit is a process by which the people, the final beneficiares of any scheme, programme, policy or law, are empowered to audit such scheme, programme, policy and law. A social audit is an ongoing process by which the potential beneficiaries and other stakeholders of an activity or project are involved from the planning to the monitoring and evaluation of that activity or project. It thereby tries to ensure that the activity or project is designed and implemented in a manner that is most suited for the prevailing local conditions, appropriately reflects the priorities and preferences of those affected by it, and most effectively serves the public interest.

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Work, Profession, Education, Organisation, grade: 1, , course: MBA, language: English, abstract: This study focus on implications of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) program on urban migration of non skilled workers and socio-economic impact on rural unskilled workers. The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of above said program in HARTI village of GADAG district in Karnataka state. The study was conducted in the month of October 2018. In MGNREGA program Grama panchayat plays an important role in monitoring, executing and implementing the scheme as per guidelines issued by the government of Karnataka. Further Gram Panchayat conducts Gramasabha, prepares the work plan, Job card registration for the unskilled job seekers in the Panchyat limits, issuing job card, creating awareness for work demand, allocating work to job card holder, payment of wages and maintaining relevant records. In this study, the standard questionnaire was used to collect the primary information from the respondents of the HARTI village in Gadag District. The respondents were the job card holders issued the Gram panchayat and have worked at least once under the MGNREGA program in the HARTI village panchayat. The study was concluded with the significant impact of MGNREGA program on improvement of socio-economic status of the unskilled workers in the village and also contributed to the non- migration of village unskilled workers to urban areas.

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - Topic: Development Politics, , language: English, abstract: This paper investigates how the employment generating scheme MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) is different from other employment generating scheme and finds how MGNREGA is supporting economic development by creating community/productive assets at the level of villages. Since 2000, India has experienced rapid economic growth and a sharp decline in poverty. But employment has grown more slowly. Government intervened in the economy through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which provides employment to unskilled workers in rural areas besides creating community/productive assets at the level of village such as wells, tanks, ponds, roads etc. This programme is designed to provide income protection against poverty in rural area. The choice of works under MGNREGA seeks to address the causes of chronic poverty such as drought, deforestation and soil erosion. MGNREGA is different from other employment and poverty alleviation programme in the sense that it is a legal framework and right to work based programme. This is a paradigm shift from its earlier programmes for it is a bottom-up, demand driven structure with built-in social audits.

India's ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act creates a justiciable 'right to work' by promising up to 100 days of employment per year to all rural households whose adult members want unskilled manual work on public works projects at the stipulated minimum wage. Are the conditions stipulated by the Act met in practice, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)? What impact on poverty do the earnings from the scheme have? Does the scheme meet its potential? How can it do better? Right to Work? Assessing India's Employment Guarantee Scheme in Bihar studies the MGNREGS's impact across India, then focuses on Bihar, the country's third largest and one of its poorest states. It shows that although the scheme has the potential to substantially reduce poverty through extra earnings for poor families, that potential is not realized in practice. Workers are not getting all the work they want, nor are they getting the full wages due. The intended recipients' awareness of how to obtain work is low. In a controlled experiment, a specially designed fictional movie was used to show how knowledge of rights and processes can be enhanced. Although the movie effectively raised awareness and improved public perceptions of the scheme, it had little effect on actions such as seeking employment when needed. Supplyside constraints in responding to demand for work must also be addressed. A number of specific constraints to work provision are identified, including poor implementation capacity, weak financial management, and inadequate monitoring systems. Addressing these constraints would allow this major antipoverty program to come much closer to reaching its potential.

This paper examines the dynamics of women's claim-making within the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in India, focusing on their participation in selecting durable assets for climate resilience. Despite legal entitlements and protections for women within the program, gender disparities persist in claiming public resources. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach including surveys and qualitative interviews, the study uncovers various pathways to women’s claim-making, influenced by factors such as gender norms around mobility and women’s voice and agency, internal barriers and constraints including comfort in public speaking, and knowledge of the program and its various procedures for selecting assets. While challenges to women’s effective participation remain, findings from our analysis suggest potential for interventions to reduce gender gaps and enhance inclusivity in planning processes. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of recognizing diverse claim-making pathways to promote inclusion effectively within the program.