Aizawl, March 11: The flagship rural employment programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has played a major role in reshaping the socio-economic conditions of rural households in Mizoram, helping stabilise incomes and reduce migration to urban areas, state Rural Development Minister Lalnilawma told the Assembly on March 10.
Responding to a question from H Ginzalala, a legislator of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement, the minister said the scheme was introduced in the state in 2006. Since its implementation, Mizoram has received a total of Rs 6,498.17 crore in central funding under the programme.
Lalnilawma said the scheme has evolved beyond providing immediate manual employment opportunities and has become an important social safety net for rural communities. By ensuring income stability and limiting rural-to-urban migration, the programme has helped improve economic security for households across rural Mizoram.
He explained that although the scheme does not directly contribute a measurable share to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product, it supports economic growth indirectly by stimulating local markets and creating durable community assets in villages.
The minister added that several socio-economic evaluations and impact assessments have been conducted in line with national guidelines to review the effectiveness of the programme. However, he noted that a comprehensive study focusing specifically on maximising the scheme’s economic impact in Mizoram has not yet been undertaken.
Lalnilawma emphasised that such localised research could further strengthen the benefits of the rural employment scheme and support long-term development across the state’s rural areas.
