Role of MGNREGA(S) in Seasonal Labour Migration: Micro Evidence from Telangana State

The main focus of this paper is to examine the performance, outcomes and impact of MGNREGA Scheme on beneficiary households. This article is based on a field survey carried out in 2010 in three villages in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana State, India. This study adopted a multi-stage random sampling method. The study found that majority of the job card holders are only able to get employment/work between 30-60 days and receive wages maximum between Rs.60 to 70 per day wherein wage discrimination was prevalent in line with gender. It concludes by saying that the government sponsored employment programme has indeed given rural poor a sense of hope about livelihood security through guaranteed employment. On the other hand, the scheme is defected in providing full employment days, wages and thus unable to prevent the working class from migrating to cities/towns in search of employment.