Impact of MGNREGA on income, expenditure and assets in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the impact of the MGNREGA on change in the income, expenditure and asset of the scheme in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya state. District was selected for the study with the objective of analysing the impact of MGNREGA on the participant households. For evaluating the specific objectives designed for the study, required primary data were collected from the participants for the year 2017. It was found that there was 20.79 per cent increase in income, after getting wage employment from MGNREGA. 
Agriculture was found to be the major source of income of beneficiary group. Due to volatility either in production, prices or both, their monthly income from agriculture was not stable. To stabilise the monthly sources of the income of the beneficiary groups, special attention is required through MGNREGA like scheme. Which not only ensure their 100 days’ work but also helps in stabilising the income. It showed that how MGNREGS helps to stabilise monthly income level of beneficiary household. But this stabilisation mainly depends on how many days and when they are setting the MGNREGS activities. Generally during the
lean season of agricultural activities MGNREGA will help to make them stabilise food security or livelihood. Significant increase in expenditure of almost all the food and non-food items was observed. This may be due to increase in income after participation in MGNREGS. The purchasing power of the beneficiaries for assets like farm implement, television, mobile phone, bike, livestock had also increased after MGNREGA.