Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Weaker Sections in Punjab: Performance, Problems and Possible Solutions

The present paper is an attempt to evaluate the socio-economic impact of MGNREGS among beneficiary households and to identify the problems and reasons for poor performance of the scheme in Punjab. The present study points out that majority of the works under the scheme are related with renovation of traditional water bodies, rural connectivity and rural sanitation. The study points out that the socio-economic impact of the scheme is not to the desired level in terms of social empowerment, women empowerment, employment generation, contribution in income, repayment of debt etc. It has been observed during the field survey that majority of the beneficiaries as well as implementing bodies such as panchayat members, secretaries and others are not much familiar with the provisions and processes of this scheme. There is shortage of trained staff for implementing this scheme properly at the grassroots level.