ABSTRACT
Based on the secondary data taken from Population Census, and the Employment-Unemployment Surveys and Periodic Labour Force Survey of the National Sample Survey, it is found that Indian economy is passing through a critical phase of economic development in which it is likely to lose its demographic advantage. Because, in India while about 4.5 million people were leaving agriculture every year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic years, the non-farm sectors job was not growing adequately to accommodate the persons leaving agriculture, and the newly educated non-farm job seekers. As a result there was an upsurge in educated youth unemployment (18% and about 24 million) rate, and hence the discouraged youth labour force. On the other hand, an increase in the share (from 8.0 to 10.2%) and growth (3.0-5.1%) of elderly population put a question on the process of harnessing demographic dividend in India. Based on these findings it is argued that an integrated approach of development is necessary to boost the labour force participation of youth and overall population to boost the growth of per capita national state domestic product (NSDP) in Indian states. This could be achieved through the promotion of micro and small enterprises along with infrastructure development along with a systematic emigration and remittances policy.
ABSTRACT
This article examines the performance of MGNREGA in select drought-affected talukas of Karnataka during the drought years and crisis situations. Furthermore, drawing from the past comparative performances in the drought- and the non-drought-affected talukas, this study attempts to identify MGNREGA’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunity in view of the unprecedented COVID-19-driven reverse migration. The evidence shows that drought-affected talukas, particularly in the poorest regions, show strong positive responses to MGNREGA and utilise programme funds. However, lack of standing instructions and automatic applicability of enhanced entitlement and the cumbersome process of fund release impose limits on the accelerated benefits to the aspiring households. Funds to meet the increased demand for work during the crisis periods require significant high order grant releases to avoid rationing. But MGNREGA may be an unequal match for humongous calamities like COVID-19 that induced the return of large hordes of migrant workers to some of the poorest regions in the country. Crises of such magnitude require swifter and proportionate responses like the special programme Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan conceived by the central government. © 2022 Institute for Human Development.