Assessing the Status and Implications of Environmental Works under MNREGA in Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Act (MGNREGS or MNREGA) started functioning in the initial year 2006 with three districts and later in all districts in three phases. MNREGA is an act, passed in 2005, after the implementation of which employment has become the right of every citizen of the country. Having this right, now people can demand employment and government is responsible for providing guaranteed employment to the people. Besides providing employment MNREGA has another key element of generating durable natural assets in deprived rural areas. The MNREGA is now considered as an ecological act because of valuable asset creation under this programme. In the light of relevant literature survey, this study finds that MNREGA has generated employment opportunities in huge numbers along with improved natural resources causing environmental benefits which helped in reducing vulnerability to climate change. From the outcomes of different studies conducted in different parts of the country, this study interprets that there is high probability that the works performed under MNREGA will be environmentally beneficial for Uttarakhand also. These works will help in enhancing adaptability and resilience power of people against the natural and environmental disaster state has to face each year. But this study finds that performance of MNREGA works is declining in all terms i.e. number of works, asset creation or expenditures on works