Examining Rural Development through the Lens of MGNREGA: Evidence from Longleng District of Nagaland

Abstract

Rural development has increasingly assumed a central position in the development discourse of many countries, particularly in the Global South, where structural inequalities and livelihood vulnerabilities remain pronounced. In India, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as a significant rights-based intervention aimed at enhancing livelihood security and promoting inclusive rural development. This article critically examines the functioning and impact of MGNREGA in the Longleng district of Nagaland, a predominantly tribal and geographically remote region. Drawing on field-based data, the study evaluates the extent to which the programme has contributed to employment generation, asset creation, and socio-economic upliftment of rural households. It further analyses the institutional and implementation challenges that shape programme outcomes, including issues of accessibility, administrative capacity, and local governance. The findings suggest that while MGNREGA has played a meaningful role in improving income security and rural infrastructure, its transformative potential remains constrained by structural and contextual.

The paper argues for a more localized and participatory approach to strengthen the effectiveness of rural employment schemes in tribal regions.