• P Keerthi Kumari
• Dr. Dommari Anjaneyulu

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), enacted in 2005, is a pivotal Indian legislation aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment annually to every household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. The scheme not only provides employment but also focuses on creating durable assets such as roads, canals, and ponds to promote sustainable development. Implementation is primarily managed by Gram Panchayat Ensuring decentralized and community-driven planning. Over the years, MGNREGA has significantly contributed to poverty alleviation, increased agricultural wages, and empowered marginalized communities, with women constituting over 50% of the workforce. Despite its successes, challenges like delayed payments, underfunding, and implementation disparities persist. In the fiscal year 2024-25, the Indian government allocated ₹860 billion to MGNREGA, maintaining the previous year's funding level. Continuous efforts are underway to enhance transparency and efficiency through technological interventions and policy reforms. The present aims in analysing selected parameters under MGNREGA among South Indian States i.e., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

MGNREGA, Approved Labour Budget, No. of Works Taken up, No. of works Completed, Average wage rate per day per person, Households worked, Individuals worked, differently abled persons worked.

"Evaluating MGNREGA's Impact: A Comparative Analysis in South India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.15-23, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06004.pdf

"Evaluating MGNREGA's Impact: A Comparative Analysis in South India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. pp15-23, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06004.pdf