Accuracy of Targeting and Rationing Under the Rural Employment Guarantee Programme: A Comparison between West Bengal and Rest of India

Abstract

One major indicator of success of a social welfare programme is the accuracy of targeting of the benefits to the intended population or groups. Using nationally as well as state representative data for 2009-10 and 2011-12, this paper attempts to assess the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in terms of accuracy of targeting in West Bengal and compares it with rest of India. Using non-parametric and parametric methodologies, it aims to explore if poorer and deprived households are rationed out more than the non-poor households as far as participation in the programme is concerned. Though implementation of MGNREGA in West Bengal has been largely poor, its targeting performance is found to be fair when compared to other parts of the country. The findings should give impetus for the concerned authorities to improve on other dimensions of the programme and effectively implement it to realize the optimal benefits.

Keywords: Targeting, Rationing, MGNREGA, West Bengal, India