Pushing Welfare: Encouraging Awareness and Uptake of Social Benefits in South India

Governments in many developing countries offer social welfare schemes that few take up or even know of. We undertake a randomized controlled evaluation of agents trained the facilitation 16 government south India. The were incentivized to seek out eligible households, provide them with information about schemes, and help apply. find increase scheme awareness but not application submission obtention. Among members government-sponsored community groups, have no effect. Scheme-specific analysis suggests program may had an impact on two relatively new, subject special focus under program, administered by implementing department. Despite modest effect awareness, intervention led significant satisfaction services.