MGNREGA

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme is the largest social security scheme in the world — guaranteeing 100 days of work each financial year to any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.

The act makes it obligatory for the State to give rural households work on demand. In case such employment is not provided within 15 days of registration, the applicant becomes eligible for an unemployment allowance.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.

One-third of the stipulated workforce must be women.
Work site facilities such as creche, drinking water and shade have to be provided.
The employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra wage will be paid.
The wages are revised according to the Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL).
A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained.
Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, afforestation and land development works.
Work site facilities such as crèche, drinking water, shade have to be provided.
Gram sabhas must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.
Social Audit has to be done by the Gram Sabha.

The Centre has asked the States to split wage payments under the MGNREGA scheme into separate categories for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and others from this financial year. The existing system for wages under the scheme is for only one type, that is there is no category wise provision of wage payment.
However, workers’ rights advocates said this will unnecessarily complicate the payment system, and expressed fears that it may lead to a reduction in scheme funding.

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