SWOC analysis of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu

This study was conducted in the Pennagaram block of Dharmapuri district with 120 respondents for identifying the strengths, weakness, opportunities and challenges of MGNREGS. The major strengths are the availability of work with assured wages during the lean season, increase in the bargaining power of agricultural labor in rural areas, increasing their purchasing power of agricultural laborers and assist in proper repair and maintenance of community assets. The weakness identified are delay in payments and defects in carrying out the schedule of rates, lack of planning and expertise in identifying development work and prioritizing them in village panchayats, lack of awareness about social audit and e- muster rolls. With regard to opportunities, it has ensured women’s participation in the labour force leading to their empowerment, ensures food and nutrient security, creates job opportunities for all stakeholders in their rural habitats and prevents and checks migration to nearby towns/cities in search of employment. The challenges are poor allocation of funds and its disbursal to the beneficiaries affecting its functioning, Poor MGNREGS implementation and monitoring resulting in the creation of less public assets and infrastructure facilities, wide spread corruption and misuse of allocated funds and increased political interference in the selection of beneficiaries and assigning of works.