Author:

Mona Hazra
1Independent Research scholar
Department of Political Science
Coochbehar Panchanan Barma University
Coochbehar,West Bengal, India

Email: monahazra11@gmail.com

Abstract::Rural development means the improvement of quality of life and economic well-being of
villagers. It aims at bringing about overall growth and development in the rural areas in terms of health, education and quality of life and economic wellbeing of the villagers. MGNREGA is the most dominant initiative for transformation of rural livelihood in India. The present study was undertaken to analyze the socio – economic benefits in the Gram Panchayats of Haldibari district of Coochbehar in West Bengal. In the present study followed through purposive as well as simple random sampling procedure. After the implementation of MGNREGA in the villages 53 percent of the rural women were involved in different works under MGNREGA. This study shows a high degree of women participation and more income generation in the villagers after the implementation of MGNREGA. And this study also describes the benefits and challenges faced by this scheme in these rural areas.

Key Words: Coochbehar, Development, MGNREGA, Rural Women, Women Empowerment etc.