As the 21st century unfolds, the vast nation of India faces an array of challenges, including how to feed its burgeoning population in a situation where rural poverty is widespread and land resources are under mounting pressure. In such a situation it is vital that the resources supporting agriculture (especially rain-fed arable farming) - soil and water, physical infrastructure, and those employed on the land operate efficiently and in harmony. Two huge programs are particularly important as India strives to achieve that aim: the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and the Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP). The aims of this report are to: show how NREGA and IWMP operate within themselves and in relation to each other, especially in the state of Karnataka, which is the focus of this report
assess the performance of NREGA in Karnataka through a poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA)
and analyze the benefits that may arise (taking into account the results of the PSIA) from a closer convergence of NREGA and IWMP in implementing projects in rural areas. Greater convergence has the potential to significantly increase the quality and scale of rural projects in India, with considerable economic, social, and poverty reduction benefits.