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Abstract
This study has evaluated the MGNREGA and women empowerment of Paniyan tribal people in Gudalur Panchayat. MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment at the minimum wage rate (prevailing in the concerned state) to every rural household living in rural India. Paniyans are one among the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTG’s) in Tamil Nadu. The Paniyans or Paniyas are found in Southern part of the India in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are concentrated mainly in the Gudalur and Pandalur taluks of the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The MGNREGA has become a tool for the development of the tribal people, especially the women. The study shows that the women have become more empowered and enriched through the programme. The major impact of the programme is in the income generation, saving pattern, improvement in their assets etc for women.