Inclusive Rural Development through Green Jobs: The NREGA Example

By : Samik Shome

Page No: 266-275

Abstract
The paper presents a decision-making model to show how National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) not only addresses the most significant social and economic ills such as poverty, unemployment, rural-urban migration, etc. in India but also fits well into the green jobs initiative of UNEP as majority of its work helps in eco-restoration and regeneration of natural resource base for sustainable rural livelihood, though it is not one of the stated objectives of this programme. To illustrate the application of the model, the study assesses the environmental dimensions of the existing projects generated under NREGA in one particular district of Karnataka as case study. The result of this study clearly indicates that NREGA, by providing employment and income to rural communities, has helped to address the issue of inclusive rural development through multiple environmental services and reduced vulnerability, apart from reducing rural poverty, ruralurban migration and child labour, among others.

Author :
Samik Shome : Program Director, Alliance Ascent College, Alliance University and Associate Professor, Alliance School of Business, Alliance University.