Acta Univ. Bohem. Merid. 2025, 28(3):35-62 | DOI: 10.32725/acta.2025.01162

Rural Development Through MGNREGS: A Mixed Method Approach

Jaya Prakash Rath
School of Management, O.P. Jindal University Raigarh, India

This was a comprehensive study of performance of one of the flagship government program of India, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The study is supported by qualitative interviews of Odisha returnee migrant laborers during the onset of pandemic in India. The quantitative analysis included 10 states of India with varied geographic locations. An overall performance index (OPI) was designed combining other known indices to reflect the inclusive performance of the program during the period, wherein, the performance indicated an upward trend during April to July this year. A comprehensive comparison of the current period under study and same period of last five years also revealed the rise in the demand for the program in the present circumstance. Basing upon the empirical evidences, a ‘policy performance based rural development facilitation model’ was conceptualized. The study provides the path of rural development through effective policy implementation. This paper has significant practical implications for policy formulations. It also addressed the gap in the existing literature.

Keywords: Employment, MGNREGS, rural development, performance index, public policies
JEL classification: A19, E24, H83, I31, I32, O21, R11

Received: April 28, 2025; Revised: October 4, 2025; Accepted: December 18, 2025; Published: December 18, 2025  Show citation

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Rath, J.P. (2025). Rural Development Through MGNREGS: A Mixed Method Approach. Acta Universitatis Bohemiae Meridionalis, 28(3), 35-62. doi: 10.32725/acta.2025.011
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