________________________________________________________________________________________________ ISSN: 2247-6172 ISSN-L: 2247-6172 <strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Applied</strong> <strong>Socio</strong>- <strong>Economic</strong> Research (<strong>Volume</strong> 3, Issue 1/ <strong>2012</strong> ), pp. 28 URL: http://www.reaser.eu e-mail: editors@reaser.eu beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. The major difference came from land and house property. Taking the value <strong>of</strong> beneficiary assets equal to one, we find that land in the case <strong>of</strong> non-beneficiary households is just 0.63, house property 0.88, live stock 0.91, ornaments 0.64 and some other assets 0.92. However, value <strong>of</strong> consumer assets was found slightly more than one, i.e. 1.18, and utensils 1.15in the case <strong>of</strong> non-beneficiary households. The assets will help them secure loans from banks at more reasonable rates in comparison to private money lenders. In fact, along with contribution in the creation <strong>of</strong> infrastructure like, water harvesting, land development, plantation, etc. contribution in enhancement <strong>of</strong> personal assets <strong>of</strong> the MGNREGA workers is important and MGNREGA seems to succeed in that area. Compared with Keynesian magical formula <strong>of</strong> digging pits and then refilling them for the sake <strong>of</strong> creating jobs, MGNREGA seems to be more effective way <strong>of</strong> doing many things simultaneously – removing poverty, ensuring food and nutrition for targeted sections, enhancing gender equality, productively utilizing the unused valuable human labour, creating infrastructure, saving the society from turning chaotic or criminal, and most importantly, creating demand for the industry, which was confirmed by tractor manufacturers, who see attractive growth in demand for machines due to increasing labour cost for agricultural operations. The MGNREGA has also facilitated provision <strong>of</strong> loan to initiate entrepreneurial activities. A case <strong>of</strong> borrowing Rs. 50,000/- from the SBI to run a small shop by a worker is another example. 7. Concluding Remarks and suggested action ‘The Act is a blessing and a challenge. Let us hope it brings smiles on the faces <strong>of</strong> our poor people. We can also share his hopes and fulfill our commitment to make such a realistic change in future.’ 14 Two issues emerge clearly – one, positive aspects <strong>of</strong> MGNREGA and shortcomings in its implementation, two, issues where MGNREGA and other schemes intermingle. It can be concluded that MGNREGA has helped improve the income level <strong>of</strong> the beneficiaries, their food security and all by productively utilizing scarce resources. The targeted groups are the main beneficiaries <strong>of</strong> MGNREGA. The increase in percentage <strong>of</strong> school going children should be the major gain <strong>of</strong> MGNREGA. The MNREGA has played important role in providing measures <strong>of</strong> inclusive growth by ensuring people’s economic and democratic rights and entitlements, creating labour intensive infrastructure and assets. 15 However, many more things need to be done to improve the situation <strong>of</strong> rural India. The mandatory work can be extended to 200 days, more food items can be distributed through improved PDS. The major schemes need to be converged and resources used judiciously. The Rashtriya Krishi vikas Yojna can play a leading role. 8. References [1] Sinha, B.K Secretary (R.D), T. Vijay Kumar, JS (SGSY) and N.K. Sinha, JD (MGNREGA): Tour Report on the visit <strong>of</strong> Sirsa (Haryana). [2] Roy A. and Day N.: CATALYST Vol. VII. Issue 2, 19 Engel, Ernst [1857], 2nd ed. pp. 28–29. [3] Drèze and Sen,“Strategies <strong>of</strong> Entitlement Protection”. In Hunger and Public Action, 1991, pp. 104–121. [4] Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh: various speeches, address to the nation. [5] Drèze J. and Sen A.K: Hunger and public action, Oxford UP, 1989. [6] Drèze J. and Oldiges C . How MGNREGA is doing?, 2007 [7] Sapna Kedia: Sustainable Development through Inter-sectoral Convergence, 2010. [8] IFPRI discussion paper 00963, 2010. 14 Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh 15 Aruna Roy and Day N, NREGA: Breaking new ground, The Hindu
________________________________________________________________________________________________ ISSN: 2247-6172 ISSN-L: 2247-6172 <strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Applied</strong> <strong>Socio</strong>- <strong>Economic</strong> Research (<strong>Volume</strong> 3, Issue 1/ <strong>2012</strong> ), pp. 29 URL: http://www.reaser.eu e-mail: editors@reaser.eu [9] ET Bureau, 26.3.2010. [10] Roy Aruna and Day N: MGNREGA: Breaking new ground, The Hindu magazine, 2010. [11] Gera Komal, Business Standard, New Delhi, Sep.22, 2009. [12] Jain Sonu: Indian Express, Feb 03, 2006. [13] <strong>Economic</strong> Survey 2009-10 to 2011-12. [14] Joseph A.. Is the media watching poverty enough, India Together, Times <strong>of</strong> India, Oct. 28, 2005. [15] Pr<strong>of</strong>. Hanumantha Rao CHH and Dr. Rangaswamy P.: Evaluation <strong>of</strong> IRDP, Planning Commission, Govt. <strong>of</strong> India. [16] Khera Reetika, <strong>Economic</strong> & Political Weekly, August 30, 2008. [17] Bhupal, D. S: Evaluation <strong>of</strong> MNREGA, Agro-<strong>Economic</strong> Research Centre, University <strong>of</strong> Delhi, 2011
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