Main Provisions of MNREGA
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), now known as MGNREGA, is a landmark legislation passed in 2005 to provide a legal guarantee of employment for rural households. The primary goal of the Act is to enhance the livelihood security of rural families by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The main provisions of MGNREGA are as follows:
- Employment Guarantee: One of the most important provisions of MGNREGA is the guarantee of 100 days of employment per household in a financial year. This provision is aimed at ensuring livelihood security for rural households, especially those who rely on agriculture and related activities for their survival.
- Wage Payment: The Act mandates the payment of wages for the work done under the scheme. The wages must be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act, and they must be paid within 15 days of completing the work. In case of delay in payment, the worker is entitled to a compensation payment.
- Work Allocation: MGNREGA ensures that the work provided is unskilled manual labor, and it focuses on projects that promote rural infrastructure development. The work includes tasks such as road construction, water conservation, land development, and afforestation.
- Priority for Marginalized Groups: The Act emphasizes the inclusion of women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other marginalized groups in the employment process. At least one-third of the total employment under the scheme must be reserved for women.
- Transparency and Accountability: The Act includes provisions to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the scheme. It mandates that all records related to employment, wages, and works should be made available for public scrutiny. The Gram Panchayats are responsible for ensuring transparency at the grassroots level.
- Social Audits: One of the unique features of MGNREGA is the requirement for regular social audits. These audits allow the community to review the functioning of the scheme and ensure that the funds are being used appropriately for the intended purposes.
- Decentralized Planning: MGNREGA encourages decentralized planning and decision-making at the local level. The Gram Panchayats play a significant role in identifying projects and allocating resources. This ensures that the local community has a say in the types of projects that should be implemented.
- Asset Creation: The program focuses on creating sustainable assets that benefit rural communities in the long term. These include rural infrastructure projects like roads, ponds, wells, and irrigation systems, which improve agricultural productivity and provide long-term benefits to rural areas.
In conclusion, MGNREGA is a critical social welfare program aimed at reducing rural poverty by providing guaranteed employment, promoting rural infrastructure, and ensuring social inclusion. While the program has been successful in many areas, challenges such as implementation issues and delays in wage payments still remain. Nonetheless, MGNREGA is a vital instrument in improving rural livelihoods and fostering inclusive development in India.
Subscribe on YouTube - NotesWorld
For PDF copy of Solved Assignment
Any University Assignment Solution
.webp)
