Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005

One of the most ambitious social security laws in India is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA), since it has been changed to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It seeks to ensure the livelihood security of rural families by ensuring that 100 days of wage work are realised within a financial year. Not only does this law guarantee employment, but it also enhances rural development by establishing sustainable assets.

In the following blog, we are going to discuss the goals, characteristics, application, advantages, and issues of NREGA 2005 with an emphasis on its contribution to rural empowerment.

Background of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005

The Parliament of India passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in September 2005 and which took effect in February 2006. It primarily aims at supplying rural citizens with the right to work. Adult members of any rural household under this Act are entitled to a minimum of 100 days’ wage employment in unskilled manual work in a year, provided they are available and willing to work.

This program has since been renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2009, named after the dream of Mahatma Gandhi to empower rural India by developing it through intensive labour.

Objectives of NREGA 2005

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 has several objectives and they are:

1. Giving guaranteed wage jobs to rural families.
2. Minimising rural-urban migration by providing livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
3. Improvement of rural infrastructure by the development of community assets.
4. Enabling the marginalised groups, particularly women, the Scheduled Castes (SC), and the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
5. An attempt to promote sustainable development through the association of employment with such practices as the conservation of water and land development, as well as afforestation.

Characteristics of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

NREGA Act 2005 is unlike any other act, as it converts the employment into a right instead of a welfare program. It has some significant features, which are:

1. Legal Guarantee of Work: 100 days of work. Every rural household is entitled to be employed in a financial year.
2. Time-bound Employment: According to the Employment, when no job is offered within 15 days after an application has been made, the applicant may receive an unemployment allowance.
3. Equal Wages: The Act is also gender-equality-based as it provides that men and women receive equal pay.
4. Decentralized Implementation: The local Gram Panchayats are to plan and implement works.
5. Transparency and Accountability: Social audits and monitoring by the people are part and parcel in order to get proper functioning.

Eligibility and Registration Under the NREGA

The criteria of NREGA 2005 are very straightforward and inclusive. Any rural household is eligible in case:

1. The applicants are adult members who will take manual work which is unskilled.
2. They reside in rural areas.

Registration Process:

1. Go to local Gram Panchayat and apply with necessary information.
2. Get a Job Card, a confirmation of registration.
3. Write a work application form where necessary.
4. The employment should be made within 15 days; otherwise, an unemployment allowance should be paid.

Activities that are Being Carried out under MGNREGA

The work offered by MGNREGA is associated with the community assets and development in rural areas. Major works include:

1. Water saving and drought-resistant.
2. Irrigation canals, country roads.
3. Farming land.
4. Plantation, afforestation.
5. Water and sanitation in the country.

These projects not only create jobs, but they also enhance long-term rural productivity.

Gram Panchayats’ Role in Implementation

Decentralized role of Gram Panchayats is one of the most significant parts of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. They are entrusted with:

1. Household registration and issue of Job Cards.
2. Taking in applications to work.
3. Determining and implementing MGNREGA projects.
4. Carrying out social audits in transparency.

This gives the local governance authority and ensures that the rural citizens have control over their own development.

Benefits of NREGA 2005

Since its introduction, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has resulted in three major benefits:

1. Employment Security: It gave wages to millions of rural families.
2. Poverty Reduction: Less income insecurity amongst the rural poor.
3. Women Empowerment: MGNREGA workers are nearly 50 percent women in the program, and this makes the program gender inclusive.
4. Infrastructure Development: Developed long-term infrastructure such as roads, ponds and canals at the village level.
5. Reduced Migration: Eliminated the distress migration to cities through the generation of local opportunities.

Implementation Challenges

The NREGA Act 2005, in spite of its success, has a number of challenges:

1. Late Salaries: Payrolls are delayed, and salary payments are usually late, which nullifies the intention of guaranteed employment.
2. Corruption and Leakages: There are fake job cards, ghost workers and mismanagement, which influence transparency.
3. Issues of awareness: There is still a lack of awareness of the legal rights of the many rural families under NREGA.
4. Poor Planning: The lack of planning can lead to failure in implementing projects in some states.

These issues are vital to tackle in order to enhance the efficiency of MGNREGA.

The Effects of NREGA on Rural Development

NREGA 2005 has had far-reaching effects:

1. More rural purchasing power and incomes.
2. Enhanced village-based democracy through the involvement of the Panchayat.
3. Added to sustainable development through attention to managing natural resources.
4. Empowered communities in the rural areas are better placed to counter droughts and economic shocks.

Conclusion

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) is a landmark in the history of social welfare in India. It guarantees livelihood security by not only ensuring wage employment, but also rural development and empowerment. The Act still stands as a lifeline to millions of rural households, though there are still challenges in its execution. Enhancing the transparency, payments on time and proper planning can render MGNREGA even more effective in ensuring inclusive growth.

FAQs on NREGA 2005

1. What is the overall goal of NREGA 2005?

It has the main objective of offering 100 days of guaranteed wages to rural households that are ready to engage in unskilled manual labour.

2. Who can work under MGNREGA?

Any adult of any rural family willing to engage in unskilled manual labour is eligible under NREGA.

3. In what way is it possible to register under NREGA?

The applicants may apply at the Gram Panchayat, receive a Job Card, and apply to work.

4. What type of work is offered in MGNREGA?

Activities concerning water conservation, road construction and afforestation, as well as rural development of infrastructures, are done.

5. Why was NREGA also changed into MGNREGA?

In 2009, the Act was changed to the Mahatma Gandhi Act to pay tribute to his vision of developing the rural areas by labour-intensive activities.