The impacts of linking NREGA payments to UID. A Study of Maharashtra

Bharat Ramaswami

Ashwini Kulkarni

15 December 2012

2

min read

Notes from the Field

IGC Research on India

Explainers

This project attempts to measure the impact of Universal Identification (UID)-linked wage payments on corruption in public works projects funded under MNREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). The goal of this project is to investigate the potential of biometric-based identification (on the UID platform promoted by the Government of India) coupled with electronic money transfers in improving governance of MNREGA public works projects. The research design envisages the treatment of making wage payments through UID in the administrative unit of Karjat block of Ahmednagar district and comparing it with households in the control group of Shevgaon block of Ahmednagar district. The control group continues to receive wage payments as before.

Bharat Ramaswami

Ashoka University

University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia

Ashwini Kulkarni

Pragati Abhiyan

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