Journal: Primax International Journal of Commerce and Management Research

ISSN: Print ISSN : 2321-3604 Online ISSN: 2321-3612 & Open Access
DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/3UFK4
PRIMAX IJCMR VOLUME NO.8, ISSUE NO. 2, JULY- SEPTEMBER 2020
Research Article
Comparative Analysis of MGNREGA Performance of Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu
Dr. Siddappa
Assistant Professor, Department of Studies in Commerce
Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari, Karnataka

*Corresponding author | Received: 20.08.2020 | Accepted: 14.09.2020 | Published: 16/09/2020 |

Abstract: India is the land of villages and that villages are depending on agriculture for their daily bread.
Agriculture alone cannot provide job in all the seasons, even it provides sometimes they cannot get proper reward
for their hard sweat. It leads increase in poverty and unemployment and these problems impact on the standard
of living of people and future of the farmers’ children. In order to provide the social security to the rural Indians
the Government of India was introduced Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) in 2005. Now in all the states and Union Territories of India Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been implemented to provide social security. Through this study
an effort has been made to compare the performance of MGNREGA between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.
Key Words: Highlights, Progress of MGNREGA, Works under MGNREGA, Financial Progress.

Introduction
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a largest social
security scheme which has provided 100 days of guarantee work to unskilled manual labourers
in the rural areas. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
is a Labour Law and Social Security Scheme which is introduced to improve the standard of
living of the rural people and empower them socially and economically. Since, it provides at
least 100 days of employment, so that they can increase their standard of living by alleviating
poverty and unemployment. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(hereafter MGNREGA) is also helpful to develop rural infrastructure by creating long term
assets like roads, canals, ponds and wells, etc. and Protecting environment, empowerment of
women, reduce rural migration and encouraging social equity among others are the main
objectives of MGNRGEA.
Literature Review

Darshana Das (2016) has highlighted role of MGNREGA scheme in rural development. This
study has assessed works performed under MGNREGA, caste-wise registration, households
completed 100 days of work, land reform and disabled beneficiaries and also identified some
flaws of MGNREGA scheme. Finally, it concluded that, MGNREGA plays a pivotal in rural
development by providing minimum 100 days of work. The women and marginalised groups

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have also got opportunities and rural infrastructure has been created by this scheme. This study
also recommended that, the MGNREGA has to spread in the rural areas though adequate
planning, implementation and supervision.

Kishor Ch. Sahu (2017) has disclosed that, performance evaluation of MGNREGA in Odisha.
This study has evaluated, employment created under MGNREGA scheme, households
completed work of 100 days, person days generated and financial performance of MGNREGA.
At the end, it is concluded that, only 90 per cent of the people in Odisha have got employment,
less percentage of workers have completed 100 days and initiatives from panchayats to state
level have to be taken to achieve the objectives of the scheme.

Husensab Nadaf (2017) has focused on performance of MGNREGA scheme in Karnataka.

This study has analysed financial and physical performance and concluded that, throughout the
year MGNREGA requires proper flow of funds, the success of MGNREGA is laid in
empowering the rural people economically, socially, environmentally and creating social
capital. MGNREGA has reduced rural exodus, poverty and unemployment in rural areas and
for women and marginalised groups it is an opportunity.

Alka Jain (2017) discussed about impact of MGNREGA on socio-economic condition of rural
people. This study recognised that, increase in wages, monetary empowerment, benefitted to
aged male and illiterate rural people are the impacts of MGNREGA. This study concluded that,
MGNREGA has strengthened the women financially, market wage rate has increased and some
issues under MGNREGA need to be addressed.

Dhiren Tamuli and Munmee Charingia (2018) have concentrated on analysis of

MGNREGA performance in Assam. This study has evaluated performance, employment
provided to households, women participation, demand and employment, lacunas in
implementation of MGNREGA, etc. At last it concluded that, to reduce the gap in planning
and assessment a proper assessment and supervision is required. To make implementation of
MGNREGA successful, network of the Government should be strengthened, local
Governments should take responsibilities, awareness has to be created regularly and social
audit is necessary to assess the problems in implementation of MGNREGA.

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Objectives of The Study

1. To study briefly about MGNREGA Scheme
2. To compare the performance of MGNREGA Scheme of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States
Research Gap
Many researchers have conducted studies on MGNREGA Scheme in India, but only finger
countable works have been held on comparative study between the states and that too between
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu no study has been conducted. The earlier researches have conducted
on data of previous years. So, this study has conducted on data of latest years.
Research Methodology
The list of works taken up, ongoing, completed works, Budget of MGNREGA and Financial
Progress of MGNREGA, funds sanctioned and utilised by the Grama Panchayats, etc., have
been considered for analysis. The data of the year 2019-20 has been used to analyse the
performance of MGNREGA of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
 Tools for Data Collection: Secondary Data published in MGNREGA Website about
performance of MGNREGA scheme has been used for this study.
 Tools for Data Analysis: Tabular forms and simple percentages have been used for
analysis.

Comparative Analysis MGNREGA Performance of Karnataka And Tamil Nadu

Table: 1-Highlights of MGNREGA of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as on 27-08-2020

Sl. Total No. of Districts, Blocks and Tamil Increase / Percentage
Karnataka
No. Grama Panchayats Nadu Decrease (%)
1 Total No. of Districts 30 31 1 3.33
2 Total No. of Blocks 226 385 159 70.00
3 Total No. of Grama Panchayats 6,027 12,524 6497 106.56
Job Card Issued to Workers
Total No. of Job Cards issued (in 19.73 29.29
1 67.37 87.10
Lakhs)
2 Total No. of Workers (in Lakhs) 158.17 126.54 -31.63 -20.00
Total No. of Active Job Cards (in 33.88 91.52
3 37.02 70.90
Lakhs)
4 Total No. of Active Workers (in Lakhs) 73.08 86.78 13.70 18.75
Percentage of SC/ST Active Workers
(i) SC Worker Against Active Workers - 9.86
1 17.25 27.11
(%)
(ii) ST Worker Against Active Workers - -8.16
2 9.55 1.39
(%)
Source: https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.
The above table-1, discloses the highlights of MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
States. The Tamil Nadu State is having more numbers in case of total number of districts (31)
i.e. 3.33 per cent districts are more, Blocks (385) i.e. 70 per cent of Blocks are more and

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number of Grama Panchayats are also more (12,524) i.e. 106.56 per cent of Grama Panchayats
are more in Tamil Nadu compared to Karnataka State.
With reference to Job Card Issued to Workers in the year 2019-20, Karnataka has issued 67.37
lakhs whereas Tamil Nadu has issued 87.10 lakhs, compared to Karnataka State Tamil Nadu
State has issued 19.73 lakhs (29.29 per cent) more Job Cards than Karnataka State.
Similarly, with respect to total number of job cards issued in the year 2019-20, Karnataka has
issued 67.37 lakhs job cards whereas Tamil Nadu has issued 87.10 lakhs cards. Tamil Nadu
has issued 19.73 lakhs (29.29 per cent) more job cards than Karnataka.
With regard to total number of workers, Karnataka is having 158.17 lakhs workers in contrast
Tamil Nadu is having 126.54 lakhs workers. It is clear that, Tamil Nadu is having 31.63 lakhs
(20 per cent) more workers than the Karnataka.
Likewise, with related to total number of Active Job Cards, compared to Karnataka (37.02
lakhs), Tamil Nadu (70.90 lakhs) is having nearly double to Karnataka in number of active job
cards. Tamil Nadu is having 33.88 lakhs (91.52 per cent) more number of active cards than
Karnataka.
With connected to total number of active Workers, 73.08 lakhs of workers are active in
Karnataka whereas in Tamil Nadu 86.78 lakhs of workers are active. Compared to Karnataka
13.70 lakhs (18.75 per cent) more number of workers are active in Tamil Nadu.
With associated to percentage of active SC workers, Tamil Nadu is having 9.86 per cent more
active SC workers than Karnataka. In contrast Karnataka is having 8.16 per cent more ST
workers than Tamil Nadu.
Table: 2-Progress of MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Tamil
Karnataka
Nadu Increase / Percentage
Sl. No. Progress
2019- Decrease (%)
2019-2020
2020
1 Approved Labour Budget (in Lakhs) 1200 2500 1300 108.33
2 Person days Generated so far (in Lakhs) 1,122.67 2,485.10 1362.43 121.36
3 Percentage of Total Labour Budget 93.56 99.40 - 5.84
4 SC Person days % as of Total Person days 15.76 27.31 - 11.55
5 ST Person days % as of Total Person days 10.10 1.13 - -8.97
6 Women Person days out of Total (%) 49.10 86.3 - 37.20
Average days of Employment Provided per
7 50.07 43.99 -6.08 -12.14
Household
Average Wage Rate per Day per Person
8 245.53 172 -73.53 -29.95
(Rs.)
Total No. of Households completed 100
9 1,88,551 1,20,722 -67,829 -35.97
Days of Wage Employment
10 Total Households Worked (in Lakhs) 22.42 56.49 34.07 151.96
11 Total Individuals Worked (in Lakhs) 41.27 64.89 23.62 57.23
12 Differently abled Persons Worked 9,872 57,145 47,273 478.86
Source: https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.

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The above table-2 exhibits the progress of MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the
year 2019-20. Compared to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu is having less progress in only few aspects
like, ST person days percentage as of total person days (8.97 per cent), average days of
employment provided per household (12.14 per cent), average wage rate per day per person
(29.95 per cent) and in total number of Households completed 100 days of wage employment
(35.97 per cent). Tamil Nadu is having high progress compared to Karnataka in many aspects
like, approved labour budget (108.33 per cent), person days generated so far (121.36 per cent),
percentage of total labour budget (5.84 per cent), SC person days percentage as of total person
days (11.55 per cent), women person days out of total (37.20 per cent), total Households
worked (151.96 per cent), total individuals worked (57.23 per cent) and differently abled
persons worked (478.86 per cent).

Finally, it can be said that, due to more number of Blocks, more number of Grama Panchayats
and more number of active workers the progress of Tamil Nadu is more compared to Karnataka
in MGNREGA.

Table: 3-Number of Works Taken-up, Ongoing and Completed under MGNREGA in

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Karnataka Tamil Nadu Increase / Percentage
Sl. No. Works
2019-2020 2019-2020 Decrease (%)
1 Number of GPs with NIL exp 18 1 -17 -94.44
Total No. of Works Taken-up (New
2 8.26 8.84 0.58 7.02
+ Spill Over (in Lakhs)
Number of On-going Works (in
3 5.01 4.53 -0.48 -9.58
Lakhs)
4 Number of Completed Works 3,25,067 4,30,530 1,05,463 32.44
Percentage of NRM Expenditure
5 63.92 79.49 - 15.57
(Public + Individual)
6 Percentage of Category B Works 68.57 26.08 - -42.49
Percentage of Expenditure on
7 Agriculture & Agriculture Allied 60.3 82 - 21.70
Works
Source: https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.
The above table-3 exposes number of works taken-up, on-going and completed under
MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the year 2019-20. With pertained to total number
of works taken-up, Karnataka has taken-up 8.26 lakhs works whereas Tamil Nadu has taken-
up 8.84 lakhs works. Tamil Nadu has taken-up 0.58 lakhs (7.02 per cent) more works than
Karnataka.

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Similarly, with regard to number of works on-going, Karnataka is having 5.01 lakhs on-going
works and Tamil Nadu is having 4.53 lakhs works. Karnataka is having 0.48 lakhs (9.58 per
cent) more on-going works than Tamil Nadu.
Likewise, with reference to number of completed works, Karnataka has completed 3,25,067
works in contrast Tamil Nadu has completed 4,30,530 works. Tamil Nadu has completed
1,05,463 lakhs (32.44 per cent) more works than Karnataka.
Similarly, Karnataka has 17 (94.44 per cent) more number of Grama Panchayats with nil
expenditure than Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has spent 15.57 per cent more amount NRM
expenditure than Karnataka. In like manner, Karnataka has 42.49 per cent of more Category
‘B’ Works than Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has spent 21.70 per cent of more expenditure on
agriculture & agriculture allied works.

Again it is proved that, since Tamil Nadu is having more number of Blocks, more number of
Grama Panchayats and more number of active workers it has completed more number of works
than Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has given more preference to agriculture and allied activities
by spending more on them.

Table: 4-Financial Progress of MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Karnataka Tamil Nadu Increase / Percentage
Sl. No. Financial Progress
2019-2020 2019-2020 Decrease (%)
1 Total Central Release (in Lakhs) 5,54,620.29 5,65,503.90 10,883.61 1.96
2 Total Availability (in Lakhs) 6,04,471.01 5,94,561.59 -9,909.42 -1.64
3 Wages (Rs. In Lakhs) 2,97,617.79 4,39,252.17 1,41,634.38 47.59
Material and Skilled Wages (Rs.
4 1,67,654.66 1,03,302.28 -64,352.38 -38.38
in Lakhs)
Total Administrative
5 9,708.51 19,892.07 10,183.56 104.89
Expenditure (Rs. in Lakhs.)
6 Total Expenditure (Rs. in Lakhs) 4,74,980.96 5,62,446.52 87,465.56 18.41
Material, Wages & Skilled
7 76.97 91.26 - 14.29
Wages (%)
8 Administrative Expenditure (%) 1.61 3.34 - 1.73
9 Percentage Utilization 78.58 94.60 - 16.02
Source: https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.
The above table-4 depicts Financial Progress of MGNREGA in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in
the year 2019-20. With reference to funds released by the Central Government, Karnataka has
got Rs.5,54,620.29 lakhs and Tamil Nadu has received Rs.5,65,503.90 lakhs. Tamil Nadu has
received Rs.10,883.61 lakhs (1.96 per cent) more amount of funds than Karnataka.

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Similarly, with associated to total availability of the funds with states, Karnataka has Rs.
6,04,471.01 lakhs and Tamil Nadu has Rs. 5,94,561.59 lakhs. Karnataka has Rs. 9,909.42 lakhs
(1.64 per cent) more funds than Karnataka.

With respect to total expenditure made by the states in the year 2019-20, Karnataka has spent
Rs. 4,74,980.96 lakhs and Tamil Nadu has made Rs. 5,62,446.52 lakhs as expenditure. Tamil
Nadu has made Rs. 87,465.56 lakhs (18.41 per cent) more expenditure than Karnataka.

Likewise, with pertained to percentage of funds utilisation, Karnataka has utilised 78.58 per
cent of funds and Tamil Nadu has utilised 94.60 per cent of funds. Tamil Nadu has utilised
16.02 per cent of more funds than Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu has properly utilised the sanctioned funds, since it has completed a greater number
of works the expenditures are also more compared to Karnataka.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that, compared to Karnataka the MGNREGA performance of Tamil Nadu
is good in number of active job cards, number of active workers, person days generated,
households participated, number of works completed and proper utilisation of funds. May be
the problems like lack of awareness, cumbersome procedures in issuing job cards, delay in
payment, lack of training, etc., are reasons for low performance of Karnataka.

References

1. About MGNREGA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rural_Employment_Guarantee_Act,_2005.
Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org.
2. About MGNREGA: https://nrega.nic.in/netnrega/sthome.aspx. Retrieved August 27, 2020,
from https://nrega.nic.in.
3. About MGNREGA: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-
wanted-to-know-about-mgnrega/article9539721.ece. Retrieved August 15, 2020, from
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com.
4. Alka Jain (2017). Socio-Economic Impact of MGNREGA on Rural Workers: An Empirical
Study. International Journal of Advanced Research. 5(5), 1458-1462.
5. Darshana Das (2016). Role of MGNREGA in Rural Employment: A Study of Barpeta
District of Assam, India. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies
(IJHSSS). Volume-II, Issue-VI. 241-248.

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6. Dhiren Tamuli and Munmee Charingia (2018). Performance of MGNREGA in Assam- A

Comparative Analysis. Research Review International Journal of Multidisciplinary.
Volume-03, Issue-09, 455-461.
7. Husensab Nadaf (2017). Progress of Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee
act in Karnataka: Emerging Issues and Challenges. International Journal of Academic
Research and Development. Volume-2, Issue-6. 966-969.
8. Karnataka Statistics:
https://mnregaweb2.nic.in/netnrega/homestciti.aspx?state_code=15&state_name=KARNA
TAKA. Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.
9. Kishor Ch. Sahu (2017). Evaluation of Performance of MGNREGA with Special Reference
to Odisha. International Journal of Development Research. Vol. 07, Issue, 10. 16358-16361.
10. Tamil Nadu Statistics:
https://mnregaweb2.nic.in/netnrega/homestciti.aspx?state_code=29&state_name=TAMIL
%20NADU. Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://mnregaweb2.nic.in.

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