MGNREGA and Employment Generation for Rural Labour in Bihar: A Case Study of Patna District by

MGNREGA and Employment Generation for Rural Labour in Bihar: A Case Study of Patna District by Dr. Kusum Kumari* Present study deal with “MGNREGA and Employment Generation for Rural Labour in Bihar: A Case Study of Patna District”. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), introduced in 2005, is a major rights-based government initiative aimed at strengthening livelihood security among rural households in India. The programme guarantees a specified amount of wage employment to rural families willing to undertake unskilled manual labour and simultaneously promotes the creation of sustainable community assets. The significance of MGNREGA is particularly pronounced in Bihar, where rural workers frequently face seasonal employment, informal occupations, inadequate wages, underemployment and migration in search of livelihood opportunities. Against this background, the present article analyses the contribution of MGNREGA to employment generation among rural labourers in Patna District of Bihar. The study examines various dimensions of the programme, including the availability of employment opportunities, generation of person-days, wage-based employment, women’s participation, improvement in household income security, reduction in seasonal unemployment and its overall role in strengthening rural livelihoods. A descriptive and analytical research design has been adopted, incorporating secondary data along with a proposed field-level assessment of rural workers engaged under MGNREGA. The study suggests that the performance of MGNREGA should not be judged solely on the basis of registered households or the number of person-days generated. Its actual effectiveness depends on the continuity and accessibility of employment, adequacy and timely disbursement of wages, participation of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, transparency in implementation and the extent to which employment opportunities enhance household livelihood security. The article therefore emphasises the need for stronger Gram Panchayat-level planning, greater awareness among potential beneficiaries, timely payment of wages, enhanced participation of women, effective social audits and improved administrative and institutional capacity. These measures can significantly strengthen MGNREGA as an instrument for sustainable rural employment generation and livelihood security in Bihar, particularly in Patna District. *Ph.D. Assistant Professor (Guest Professor), Department of Economics, S.S.Collage Jhehanabad, Bihar. Mobile 8083847956, Email -Shiv1668 @ gmail.com