Implementation of MG-Nrega in rural West Bengal: A case study of Sonamukhi block, Bankura district, W.B.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA) guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to participate in unskilled manual work. The initial 200 districts chosen for implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) were the most backward districts of this country. Bankura district in West Bengal was selected at it's first phase. The current literature has observed the low awareness of the beneficiaries as well as some institutional gaps in the implementation of such scheme. Our study tries to review the current status of implementation of NREGA in Sonamukhi block of Bankura district, West Bengal and to identify emerging strengths and weaknesses for wider dialogue for improvements. 100 households have been chosen from ten villages/gram sangsads on stratified random sampling basis. The respondents have been asked through open ended questionnaire on several aspects of MGNREGA. Our study observes some irregularities in the implementation procedure and the lack of awareness about the rights. Still the beneficiaries believe that if effectively implemented, NREGA will be a more effective instrument for reducing poverty.