35
6.2.3 Income from government Schemes
Government benefits to SHG members can be ascertained by looking at how from many
schemes they are benefitted. We find that the NREGA is rather widespread in Tamil
Nadu among SHG members as against in Karnataka. Table 6.5 and 6.6 depict the
number of days worked the income from NREGA and the number of members to whom
benefits accrue. We find that in Tamil Nadu the average number of days worked is about
79 while about 157 members/family members worked for the same. In Karnataka
however only 2 members worked in NREGA for about 85 days. On questioning we were
told that members from Karnataka came from conservative families and were not
comfortable in NREGA work.
Table 6.5: NREGA income of the family in 2013 (and spending) Tamil Nadu
Number of days worked (last
year)
Amount received as wages
(last year)
Average
78.67*
7,757.24
Standard deviation
31.60
6,266.96
Number of
observations
157
156
Median
97
8,000
*in some of the households, more than one member has worked under the NREGA.
