• Dr. M. Guru Mohan Reddy

India’s rural areas remain home to a significant portion of the population, underscoring the need for a robust rural economy to support national growth. Despite urban advancement, rural communities contend with persistent challenges such as illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition, and inadequate infrastructure, which often drive young people to migrate to cities for better opportunities. Mahatma Gandhi envisioned development driven by rural progress, emphasizing the importance of empowering the rural poor. To this end, the Government of India launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005, aimed at providing guaranteed employment to the rural unemployed and facilitating community-based work. This study analyzes MGNREGA's effectiveness in Andhra Pradesh over the past five fiscal years leading up to its 20th anniversary in February 2025. The findings reveal key statistics, such as the issuance of 6.98 million job cards and the engagement of 12.48 million workers, illustrating strong participation levels. The analysis also highlights fluctuations in the approved labor budget and person-days over the years, with particular attention given to the consistency of women’s participation, averaging around 60%. Further examination of works progress indicates significant improvements in project implementation, as evidenced by the decrease in gram panchayats with zero expenditures. Financial data shows fluctuations in central government funding and total expenditure, peaking at 1,097,460.71 lakhs in FY 2020-21. The study concludes that while MGNREGA plays a critical role in fostering rural development, ongoing assessment of its impact, efficient fund management, and adaptability to changing needs are essential for sustained progress in rural India.

Rural development , MGNREGA , Employment

"An Analysis of MGNREGA Implementation in Andhra Pradesh: Performance and Financial Progress (FY2020-2025) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.328-332, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06064.pdf

"An Analysis of MGNREGA Implementation in Andhra Pradesh: Performance and Financial Progress (FY2020-2025) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. pp328-332, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06064.pdf