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.

Key Features

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.

Funding

Funding is shared between the centre and the states.
The funding pattern of the scheme comprises 100% funding for unskilled labour cost and 75% of the material cost by Central Government and rest shall be borne by the State Government.

Why in News?

According to a Parliamentary Standing Committee report submitted to the Lok Sabha recently, fake job cards, widespread corruption, late uploading of muster rolls, and huge pending payments for wages and materials are among the issues hampering the MGNREGA scheme, apart from insufficient funding.

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