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ABSTRACT
The present study conducted in the Melghat's Chikhaldara and Dharani Blocks of Amaravati District in Maharashtra has examined the impact of MGNREGA on creation of sustainable livelihood for Tribes. It has been found that MGNREGA has the potential to transform rural economy and social relations at many levels if implemented properly. In Melghat, in terms of public works, the scheme has failed to create sustainable assets or to contribute to the development of the rural economy.
Keywords: Impact of MGNREGA, Sustainable livelihood, Melghat Tribes.
INTRODUCTION
Development of Tribal Population is a key issue in our country for up-lift of socio-economically backward classes in India. Major problems of tribal community are illiteracy, low level of education, poor health conditions, poverty, unemployment, lack of development opportunities and above all, insensivity towards development. Hence therefore, for socio-economic rehabilitation of these tribes Government has implemented so many schemes and plans for the development of tribal community. MGNREGS is one of the Schemes implemented with this background in Melghat by the government.
Melghat
Melghat known to the outside world by two words "Malnutrition" and "Project Tiger", a hilly forest area in the Satpuda Mountain covers mainly Dharni and Chikhaldara blocks of Northern Amravati District in Maharashtra comprising 89.27% of the tribal population. 'Melghat' stands for its name, which means 'cluster of Ghats'. Melghat is one of the most remote areas in the Amravati district of the state of Maharashtra and is inhabited mostly by the tribes comprising the Korku tribes. Gond, Nihal, Balai, Gaolan, Gawali, Halbi, Wanjari are also the tribes residing in Melghat.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
The MGNREGS works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) (initially named as National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA) enacted by legislation on August 25, 2005. MGNREGA is the first ever law internationally, that guarantees the right to work by providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members wishes to work and ask for unskilled manual work.
The Act has come into force with effect from February, 2006 and since 2010-11, all details with regard to the expenditure of MGNREGS are available and uploaded on the Management Information System (MIS) in the public...