MGNREGA IN ERODE, TAMIL NADU: PROMISE, PRACTICE, AND THE PATH AHEAD

The mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee sAct (MGNREGA) aims to provide at least 100 days of wage creating sustainable community assets. This study examines its implementation in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, with specific focus on perundurai Taluk , assessing its promise ,practice, and future trajectory. The scheme, introduced to ensure livelihood security and social inclusion, has demonstrated significant potential in empowering rural households, especially women, who constitute approximately 59% of the workforce. Field-level observations from 29 panchayats reveal socio-economic benefits, including supplementary income, reduced distress migration, and improved household resilience. However, persistent challenges-such as delays in wage payments, rationing of work, limited awareness of entitlements, and gaps in participatory planning-restrict its effectiveness. MGNREGA in Erode demonstrates that the scheme remains a vital instrument for sustainable and inclusive rural development, but requires systemic strengthening to meet its original promise.