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MGNREGA in Kashmir: An Analysis of Labour Market Outcomes and Livelihood Security

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  • Mushtaq Ahmad Malla

Abstract

This article attempts to examine the coverage and labour market outcomes of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Kashmir. It is based on a cross-sectional mixed-method study of 200 households, 40 bureaucrats and local political representatives conducted in Kupwara, one of the poorest districts of Jammu & Kashmir. The article argues that MGNREGA is poorly implemented and is not functioning as a guaranteed safety net for the poor households that suffer from job scarcity. Considerable benefits are directed towards the non-poor, while several poor and deserving households are excluded. This bias is a result of rationing in local distribution by middlemen in collusion with bureaucrats to further their political and economic interests. In addition, the administration’s orientation towards MGNREGA as a development policy instead of a social protection, supply shortage in the provision of MGNREGA work and administrative delays in project operationalisation are some of the key bottlenecks. The article contends that the policy has enormous scope and potential to achieve its anticipated objective of acting as livelihood protection for job scarce workers in rural Kashmir, if it is implemented as a social protection policy following its provisions in its true spirit.

Suggested Citation

  • Mushtaq Ahmad Malla, 2020. "MGNREGA in Kashmir: An Analysis of Labour Market Outcomes and Livelihood Security," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 14(3), pages 424-446, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inddev:v:14:y:2020:i:3:p:424-446
    DOI: 10.1177/0973703020954660
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. D. Narasimha Reddy & Rukmini Tankha & C. Upendranadh & Alakh N. Sharma, 2010. "National Rural Employment Guarantee as Social Protection," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 63-76, July.
    2. Zimmermann, Laura V, 2012. "Labor Market Impacts of a Large-Scale Public Works Program: Evidence from the Indian Employment Guarantee Scheme," IZA Discussion Papers 6858, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    4. Jha, Raghbendra & Bhattacharyya, Sambit & Gaiha, Raghav & Shankar, Shylashri, 2009. ""Capture" of anti-poverty programs: An analysis of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Program in India," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 456-464, September.
    5. Kalanidhi Subbarao & Carlo del Ninno & Colin Andrews & Claudia Rodríguez-Alas, 2013. "Public Works as a Safety Net : Design, Evidence, and Implementation," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11882.
    6. Clément Imbert & John Papp, 2015. "Labor Market Effects of Social Programs: Evidence from India's Employment Guarantee," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 7(2), pages 233-63, April.
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