The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA) 2005 was passed in the year 2005 and launched in February 2006. The Act is basically a labour and social security guaranteeing measure taken by the government to guarantee the constitutional right: ‘Right to Work’, by providing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult member is ready to do unskilled manual work, for a minimum wage as stipulated under the Minimum Wages Act.
The government was implementing several schemes to provide employment and improve the rural areas. These include the Food for Work Programme (FWP), the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP), the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP), etc. It aims to enhance livelihood and security in rural areas 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.
In upcoming years, several such schemes were subsumed under or integrated into one scheme. The final outcome of several schemes being subsumed into one is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act NREGA. It is the world’s most extensive social welfare programme. In the last 10 years, 3.14 lakh crores have been spent on the scheme. 1980 cr person days of employment generated. The scheme has arguably managed to lift several lakhs of villagers out of rural poverty. MGNREGA guarantees a hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
MGNREGA works to address climate change vulnerability, protect farmers from such risks, and conserve natural resources. The Government of India passed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, in September 2005. The Act gives a legal guarantee of a hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of a rural household who demand employment and are willing to do unskilled manual work.
Aim & Objectives of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA):
The act provides 100 days of assured employment every year to every rural household in 200 districts. Later, the scheme will be extended to 600 districts. One-third of the jobs could be reserved for women. If the government failed to provide employment, the salary for 100 days would be given.
– Enhance livelihood & social security of rural areas
– 100 days’ wage employment for rural people
– Create durable assets such as roads, canals, etc and strengthen the livelihood resource base of the rural poor
– Strengthening democracy at the grassroots level by strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions across India
– Proactively ensuring social inclusion
Features of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA):
- Hailed by the government as “the largest and most ambitious social security and public works programme in the world”
- Applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance if they are not employed within 15 days of applying.
- Employment will be provided within 5 km of an applicant’s residence. In case work is provided outside 5 km, the applicant is eligible for an extra allowance.
- At least 1/3rd of the beneficiaries shall be women
- Under no circumstance will the person be paid less than the minimum wage
- The cost of the scheme is shared by both the Central and State governments
- State Government may make rules to carry out the provisions of Act, subject to the conditions of consistency rules made by the Central Government
How to get employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)?
Every adult member of a rural household who is ready to do unskilled manual work and who wants to seek employment under the Act shall follow the following procedure:
-
Register himself/ herself by providing their name, age & address at the Gram Panchayat in the village:
After due verification, the person is issued a ‘Job Card’ within 14 days. A Job Card is a key document that records workers’ entitlements under MGNREGA. It legally empowers the registered households to apply for work, ensures transparency and protects workers against fraud. The application for a job card can be made for free, and it can be made at any time throughout the year. The registration is valid for 5 years and may be renewed/re-validated following the process prescribed for the same, as and when required.
- Now you have to choose your State name from the given list.
- Select the district for the NREGA district payment list.
- Select the block for the block’s NREGA list.
- Choose your panchayat in the MNREGA panchayat list.
- Click on Consolidate Report of Payment to Worker.
-
Applications for work:
The application for work may be submitted in writing either to the Gram Panchayat or to the Programme Officer. Group applications may also be submitted to the authorities. Every adult member of a registered household whose name appears on the job card shall be entitled to apply for unskilled manual work under the Scheme.
-
Providing employment:
Applicants who are provided with work shall be informed in writing, by a letter sent to them at the address given in the job card and by a public notice displayed at the Panchayat’s office at the district, intermediate or village level.
(those who are not employed within 15 days from the date of applying are eligible for unemployment allowance)
-
Period of Employment:
Period of employment shall ordinarily be at least 14 days continuously, with not more than 6 days in a week.
Other provisions related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA)
- If any injury is caused to the person employed by accident during his employment period, he shall be entitled to medical treatment free of charge.
- Where hospitalisation of the injured worker is necessary, the State Government shall arrange for such hospitalisation, including accommodation, treatment, medicines and payment of daily allowance not less than half of the wage rate required to be paid had the injured been engaged in the work.
- If a person employed under a Scheme dies or becomes permanently disabled by accident in the course of employment, he shall be paid by the implementing agency an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 25,000/- or such amount as may be notified by Central Government, amount shall be paid to legal heirs of the deceased or the disabled, as the case may be.
- The facilities of safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, a first-aid box with adequate material for emergency treatment for minor injuries and other health hazards connected with the work being performed shall be provided at the work site.
- In case the number of children below the age of 6 years accompanying the women workers at the site is five or more, the facility shall be made to depute one of such women workers to look after those children. The person so deputed shall be paid wages.
- In case the payment of wages is not made within the period specified under the Scheme, the labourers shall be entitled to receive gst payment of compensation for the delay.
Salient features of the official website of NREGA
- Gives legal guarantee of wage employment to the adult members of rural households who are willing to do unskilled manual labour, subject to a maximum of 100 days per household
- Applicable for all villages in the District
- Every rural household has the right to register under MGNREGA
- Lodge FIRs against the erring parties
- Initiate proceedings suo motu in the event of any circumstance arising that may cause any grievance
- Engage experts to facilitate the disposal of the complaint
- Direct redressal, disciplinary and punitive actions
- Report his findings to the Chief Secretary of the State and the Secretary of, State
- Nodal Department for appropriate legal action against erring persons
Check out the names appearing in the JOB CARD:
STEP 1: Visit the Govt Website of The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005– scroll down in the home page to find the sub-heading Job Cards, under the main heading ‘Reports’
STEP 2: On clicking on the same, you will be taken to a new page containing the list of states. Click on the state required.
STEP 3: Select the necessary details, such as financial year, district, etc., from the drop-down list and click on ‘Proceed’ to view the list containing the name and job pan card number of the people registered in that particular rural area.
