The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has proved to be a major hit in Ernakulam district in Kerala. This is evident from the increasing number of people opting for jobs under the scheme. The MGNREGS has immensely contributed to local development and has helped in generating rural employment, besides women empowerment. 

AIR Correspondent reports: “The scheme has proved to be hugely successful in Ernakulam district, with people's participation showing a rising trend. During the last fiscal, 11,800 families completed 100 days employment under the scheme, registering a 240 per cent increase over the year before. Of the 8400 projects taken up during last year, 6546 were completed in various block panchayats. 33 gram panchayats in the district utilised over one crore rupees for various projects. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response, the district has set a target of generating 60 lakh 43 thousand man-days benefitting 1.17 lakh families during the current fiscal. A sum of 157 crore rupees has been set apart for this purpose. However, an important aspect that stood out was the abject lack of enthusiasm towards the scheme among the youth in the age group of 18-30 years. Only 15(.)61 per cent the total number of persons registered for the jobs availed of the benefit of the scheme in this age group."