ABSTRACT
Welfare Schemes, India, MGNREGA, NRLM, Social Rural poverty in India has persisted
despite rapid economic progress, due to systemic deprivation of livelihoods, infrastructure,
human development, and financial inclusion. In response, the Government of India has
launched multiple welfare programs, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM),
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman
Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Integrated Child
Development Services (ICDS), and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This paper
evaluates these schemes using 2023–2025 data, government portals, and independent
evaluations to assess their impact on rural poverty indicators—employment, income security,
infrastructure, health, and financial inclusion. MGNREGA and NRLM strengthened
livelihood resilience and women’s empowerment; PMGKAY and PM-KISAN ensured food
and income relief; PMGSY and PMAY-G enhanced physical infrastructure and housing
security; PMUY and ICDS supported health, nutrition, and energy access; and PMJDY
expanded banking outreach. Despite successes, implementation challenges such as delays in
payments, inclusion errors, fiscal limitations, and inter-state variation persist. The paper
recommends improving targeting, indexing benefits to inflation, integrating skill
development with transfers, reinforcing monitoring through digital tools, and enabling
convergence across schemes to maximize poverty reduction. These reforms can help ensure
that welfare schemes continue to serve as effective tools for inclusive rural development.
Keywords: Rural Poverty, Welfare Schemes, India, MGNREGA, NRLM, Social Security,
Infrastructure, Financial Inclusion