MGNREGA- A PROSPECT OF ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH POVERTY REDUCTION

The mission of SDGs has been launched by the UNO from January 2016 as Agenda 2030 that aim to end poverty, hunger and assure gender equality while building a life of dignity for all over the next 15 years. The end of 15-year cycle of the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which came to an end in 2015 paved the way for the SDGs. The agenda of SDGs addresses three dimensions of sustainable development –social, economic, and environmental. It has 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty fight inequality and tackle climate change. Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making these all are due the lack of employment services. The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. The most vulnerable nations – the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing states – continue to make inroads into poverty reduction. However, inequality persists and large disparities remain regarding access to health and education services and other assets To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations. Social protection systems need to be implemented to help alleviate the suffering of disaster-prone areas mainly rural area of country and provide support in the face of great economic risks. These systems will help strengthen responses by afflicted populations to unexpected economic losses during disasters and will eventually help to end extreme poverty in the most impoverished areas. To achieve first goal of sustainable development MGNREGA is a good scheme to generate employment in rural areas and reduce poverty. MGNREGA is a social security tool launched in 2005 to enhance the livelihood security of the rural poor by providing them with 100 days of guaranteed employment in a financial year. Any adult who is willing to do unskilled labour can register under MGNREGA and demand for work. MGNREGA has helped in assuring a minimum financial security to the rural sections and has contributed to the overall economic and social well-being of its members. The efficiency in its implementation by the gram panchayaths has also played a major part in ensuring its success. In the World Development Report of 2020, MGNREGA was reported as a peerless example of rural development. The present study aims to evaluate the socio-economic impact of MGNREGA and the effectiveness of scheme in poverty reduction in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.