Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Development Act, 2005 (MGNREGA)
2020 JUL 7
Preliminary >
Social Justice > Welfare Schemes > Government Schemes
IN NEWS:
- Demand for work under the MGNREGA has more than doubled in this fiscal, so far, due to the COVID-19 lockdown and about 42 per cent of the total allocation of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the employment scheme has already been distributed.
ABOUT THE ACT:
- MGNREGA, is the largest work guarantee programme in the world.
- It was enacted in 2005 with the primary objective of guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.
Key features:
- Legal right to work: Unlike earlier employment guarantee schemes, the Act provides a legal right to employment for adult members of rural households. Employment must be provided with 15 days of being demanded failing which an ‘unemployment allowance’ must be given.
- Wages must be paid according to the wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
- At present, wage rates are determined by the central government but vary across states, ranging from Rs 135 per day to Rs 214 per day.
- Gram Sabhas must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them. Social audits are conducted by gram sabhas to enable the community to monitor the implementation of the scheme.
- The central government bears 100% of the cost of unskilled labour, 75% of the cost of semi-skilled and skilled labour, 75% of the cost of materials and 6% of the administrative costs.
PRELIMS QUESTION:
Q. With reference to provisions made under The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 and MGNREGA scheme, consider the following statements:
- The wages paid under the act are uniform nationally and is paid according to the Minimum wages act,1948.
- The act empowers Gramsabha with the responsibility of social audit of works undertaken under the scheme.
- The entire cost of the scheme is borne by the central government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct:
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- All of the above
Answer to Prelims question