Public Policy for Rural Employment in Neo-Liberal Era: A Study of MGNREGA in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The new economic policy in India launched in 1991reflected the main tenets of neoliberalism advocated worldwide by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. After adoption of neoliberal economic reforms the growth rates have risen along with the process of accelerated liberalization of trade and capital market, but failed to bring any change in generating employment. As the high growth rates have not led to the automatic employment avenues for the rural poor in India, there was seemingly unrest among the rural poor. It has generated widespread protest and movements among poor peasants and agricultural labourers for improved livelihoods and dignity. This has necessitated state intervention in correcting the imbalances generated by neoliberalist policies. The enactment of MGNREGA is an important milestone in this direction. It has been hailed as milestone in social policy and employment creation.

Keywords: MGNREGA, Public Policy, Neo-liberalism, Employment generation, Women participation.