Abstract

                                The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is oneof the largest social security scheme implemented in the world to ensure foodand livelihood security to the marginalized sections of our country. The mainobjective of this scheme is to provide employment for a minimum of 100 days ina year to every family member willing to do unskilled manual labor in rural areas.The direct changes brought out by MGNREGS on the livelihoods of dalit womenbeneficiaries was found to be medium in this study. With regard to componentwisedirect changes, medium level on total number of man days in a year, twopersons being employed in a family, more than seven hours of daily workinghours, daily wage rate of Rs. 200-Rs.300, with a medium level of migration aftertheir participation in MGNREGA was reported in this study. Our policy plannersat the national and state level, district administrators at the regional level andextension professionals at all levels need to be involved in strengthening thiswelfare scheme to achieve it’s desired objectives.

Key words : MGNREGS Dalit women beneficiaries, Direct Changes, Livelihoods, Northern districts of Tamil Nadu