Workfare programs and children’s meals intake: Evidence from India

Karan Singh Bagavathinathan and Ritam Chaurey

Food Policy, 2020, vol. 95, issue C

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of the Indian workfare program (MGNREGA - Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) that promotes female participation, on the food consumption of children. Using nationally representative data from the National Sample Surveys between 1999–2007, and a difference-in-differences strategy stemming from the staggered roll-out of the program across districts of India, we find that MGNREGA resulted in a decrease in the number of meals for preschool and school-going children. The negative effects on the number of meals are partially attenuated in larger households.

Keywords: Workfare programs; Child nutrition; Female employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 I38 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:95:y:2020:i:c:s0306919220301469

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101942

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