Success of the any development programme depends on mobilising peoples ’ participation by creating awareness among potential beneficiaries and other stake holders. Communication plays a crucial role in mobilising the communities to actively participate in the development process to distribute its benefits equally across the social classes. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of Govt. of India is a massive employment generation programme aimed to increase the purchasing power of the needy by assuring a reasonable level of employment in a year. While the Govt of India has used communication as a tool to increase beneficiary participation in the development programmes, the peoples ’ utilisation of these channels and their utility remain unknown. study was conducted in the two blocks Odisha state of India with 60 beneficiaries to analyze the communication channel utilization and preference for MGNREGA related beneficiaries. Primary data were collected by using structured interview schedule developed for this study. Results revealed that the interpersonal channels i.e. local leaders and gram panchayat officials were preferred and consulted frequently for MGNREGA information. Among mass media, television was widely used ahead radio.

Keyword: Communication Sources, Beneficiaries, MGNREGA