National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

Employment Guarantee Act 2005 or NREGA scheme is Indian labour law and social safety standard that aims to ensure the ‘right to work’. This act was established in September 2005 under the UPA government of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It directs to improve livelihood protection in rural states by implementing at least 100 days of salary employment in a financial year to each household whose adult members offer to do unskilled manual work.

Benefits of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA Scheme)

• It ensures 100 days of wage employment in the financial year to a rural household whose adult members suggest doing unskilled standard work. In this plan, one-third of the recommended jobs will be maintained for women
• MGNREGA scheme was originally started in 200 areas or districts. Later on, this project will be further prolonged to 600 districts
• If the candidate is not engaged within 15 days, then he or she will be allowed a regular unemployment allowance
• Social stability for the most vulnerable people residing in rural India by implementing job openings
• Livelihood protection for the poor through the creation of strong assets, developed water protection, soil protection and higher farm productivity
• Flood management and drought-proofing in rural India
• Empowerment of the culturally disadvantaged, particularly women, Schedules Tribes (STs), and Scheduled Castes (SCs) through the methods of rights-based law
• Establishing decentralised, participatory plan through a convergence of several anti-poverty and resources initiatives
• Developing self-government at the grass-roots by encouraging Panchayati Raj Institutions
• Performing with greater clarity and responsibility in governance
• Thus, MGNREGA is a great tool for securing inclusive growth in rural India through its influence on social security, livelihood protection and democratic empowerment.

Features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• Eligibility: Any individual who is above the age of 18 and lives in rural districts is allowed to practise for work
• Entitlement: Any candidate is allowed to accomplish within 15 days, for as many as he or she has practised. It is subjected to a conclusion of 100 days per family per year
• Distance: Work is to be implemented within a range of 5 kilometres of the applicant’s home if possible, and in any state within the block. If work is given beyond 5 km, travel fees have to be satisfied
• Payments: Workers are allowed to the sanctioned minimum wage relevant to rural labourers in the state. Unless and until the central government 'suggests' a separate payment rate. If the central Government reports, the payment rate is controlled to a minimum of ₹60 per day
• Timely Return: Workers are to be given weekly, or not later than a fortnight. Reimbursement of payments is to be made directly to the person involved in the presence of self-governing persons of the city on pre-announced dates
• Unemployment Adjustment: If work is not given within 15 days, candidates are allowed an unemployment fee. One-third of the payment rate for the initial thirty days, and one half consequently
• Worksite: workers are allowed to various departments at the worksite such as fresh drinking water, screen for periods of rest, child-minding, and emergency health care.

Employment Guarantee Scheme

• Employment Guarantee Scheme: Here, every state government has to set in position as an Employment Guarantee Scheme as a period of six months of the Act getting into power
• Permitted Activities: A list of admissible work is provided in Schedule I of the Act. These are involved mainly with minor irrigation, water preservation, land improvement, rural streets, etc. However, the schedule also provides any other work which may be declared by the central government in discussion with the state government
• Programme Director: The Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is to be organised at the block level by a ‘Programme Officer’ But, the Act provides any of his/her duties to be transferred to the gram panchayats
• Executing Agencies: REGS (Research Experiences for Graduate Students) works are to be performed by ‘executing agencies’. It includes the gram panchayats (they are supposed to complete half of the REGS activities). But executing agencies may further include other Panchayati Raj Institutions, line agencies such as the government works department or NGOs or Forest Department
• Contractors: Private builders are banned
• Decentralised Plan: A rack of plans is to be controlled by the business officer, based on suggestions from the implementing companies. Each Gram Panchayat is also assumed to make a shelf of works based on the support of the Gram Sabha
• Clarity and Responsibility: The Act covers many provisions for clarity and responsibility, such as general social statements by the Gram Sabhas. Further, the necessary information of muster rolls, public convenience of all REGS reports, automatic updating of job cards, etc.

Provisions of MGNREGA

• Participation of Women: work priority is to be provided to women in the allocation of tasks. At least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women'
• Penalties: The Act declares that 'whoever violates the requirements of this Act shall be responsible for a penalty which may continue to ₹1000'
• State Council: The execution of the Act is to be controlled by a 'State Employment Guarantee Council'
• Cost-Sharing: The central government will spend on labour expenses and 75% of the tangible costs. The state governments have to repay the unemployment discount and 25% of the material values
• Time Frame: The Act is to get into force originally in 200 areas, and is to be increased to the whole of rural India within five years of its enactment.

Documents Required for NCPI

• Photograph of the candidate
• Verification of documents such a Voter ID Card, Aadhaar, ration card, and PAN card
• Name of the village and landmark
• Name, gender and age of all NREGA job card candidates from the family
• Name of the gram panchayat
• Particulars of whether the candidate(s) are receivers of ST/SC/IAY/LR
• Name of the block
• Person's thumb impression or signature of the applicants.

Objectives of MGNREGA

• The main motive is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every rural households in a particular financial year
• The employment is usually offered to the Adult members in the form of manual labour
• To create durable assets such as water conservation structures, rural infrastructure, and other natural resource management activities
• To reduce rural-urban migration by providing job opportunities in rural areas
• To empower women, it is important to guarantee that at least one-third of the recipients are female and to encourage their involvement in all levels of decision-making
• To advance social fairness by focusing on underrepresented groups including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other underprivileged sections.

Role of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat in MGNREGS

• Identification of works to be taken up under the scheme and priority for such works
• Planning and implementation of works in consultation with the workers
• Verification of works completed and measurement of work done
• Keeping up accounts and records relevant to the plan
• Disbursement of wages to the workers and resolution of grievances

• Identifying and prioritising the projects that will be implemented under the programme
• Planning and implementing works under the Employment Assurance Scheme
• Verifying completed works before disbursing wages to the workers
• Maintaining records and accounts related to the scheme, including the muster roll, measurement book, and accounts book
• Disbursing wages to the workers and resolving grievances
• Ensuring the proper functioning of the scheme
• Launching an investigation and instituting sanctions in the event of any malpractice or irregularity

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