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MGNREGS in Odisha: Social Inclusion and Exclusion Challenges

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Social Exclusion and Policies of Inclusion

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Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), enacted in 2005, is the Indian Government’s response to the constitutionally manifested right to work and means to promote livelihood security by creating durable assets in India’s rural areas. It provides 100 days of guaranteed work to any person who demands the same. The potential of social protection programs to go beyond the safety net-centred application and leading to social inclusion, empowerment and meeting larger sustainable development goals is increasingly recognised. Therefore, it requires a commitment to change that is gradual and incremental. MGNREGS in the state of Odisha has failed to include and led to exclusion of those who most require it, the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, persons living below the poverty line and especially women across these categories. This chapter is based on an empirical study conducted in four districts of Odisha, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Baragarh. The chapter demonstrates the challenges to social inclusion and exclusion that are reinforced by both state and non-state policies and actors. Further, it highlights that due to the limitations of the program, distress migration as a strategy is adopted by many to augment their income as livelihood options are limited in these geographies.

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Acknowledgements

This chapter is based on a study that was commissioned by the Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth (ICRG) in India, a Technical Assistance (TA) Program supported by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) to improve the design and implementation of works under MGNREGs, safeguarding previous investments. The funding received from ICRG is gratefully acknowledged. The support of colleagues, Dr. Smita Mishra Panda, Dr. Bibhunandini Das and Ms. Payal Nayak in the conduct of the study is also thankfully acknowledged. The opinions expressed in this chapter are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the views of ICRG or DFID.

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  1. Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

    Supriya Pattanayak

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  1. Supriya Pattanayak
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

    Smita Mishra Panda

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

    Annapurna Devi Pandey

  3. Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

    Supriya Pattanayak

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Pattanayak, S. (2022). MGNREGS in Odisha: Social Inclusion and Exclusion Challenges. In: Panda, S.M., Pandey, A.D., Pattanayak, S. (eds) Social Exclusion and Policies of Inclusion. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9773-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9773-9_7

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