Abstract            Volume:13  Issue-1  Year-2025         Original Research Articles

Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com

India, as a predominantly rural nation with 68% of its population residing in villages, faces significant challenges of poverty and unemployment. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), launched in 2005, represents a paradigm shift in rural development by providing legally guaranteed employment to rural households. This study examines the impact of MGNREGS in Pindra block of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, through an ex-post facto research design involving 70 beneficiaries from five Gram Panchayats. The research reveals significant improvements in employment generation (mean increase from 105.21 to 173.57 days per year), income enhancement (from Rs. 22,071 to Rs. 42,872 annually), community asset creation (34.88% increase), and reduced migration (from 110.64 to 74.00 days per year). However, challenges persist including late payment of wages (97%), non-provision of crèche facilities (100%), and inadequate implementation of unemployment allowances (100%). The study concludes that MGNREGS has positively impacted rural livelihoods while highlighting areas requiring improvement for optimal scheme effectiveness.

Download this article as