Context: Recently, the 21st Meeting of the Central Employment Guarantee Council was held under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Panchayati Raj.
About the Council

• It has been constituted under Section 10 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREG Act), 2005. 
• The council is entrusted with the task of monitoring, redressal mechanism, and to advise the government about the implementation strategy of the scheme.
• The CEGC is chaired by the Rural Development Minister and comprises both official and non-official members.
• The body prepares annual implementation which is tabled before Parliament, an indication of the importance given to the council by the Act. 

About MGNREGA

• MGNREGA, which is the largest Work Guarantee Programme in the World, was enacted in 2005 with the primary objective of guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households. 
• It aims at addressing causes of chronic Poverty through the ‘works’ (projects) that are undertaken and thus ensuring sustainable development. 
• There is an emphasis on strengthening the process of Decentralisation by giving a significant role to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in planning and implementing these works.
• At present, it covers all Districts of the country with the exception of those that have a 100% urban population.  The Act provides a list of works that can be undertaken to generate employment related to water conservation, drought proofing, land development, and flood control and protection works.  
• With a view to achieving transparency and accountability, the Government has been taking all steps to achieve 100% payment of wages in the bank account of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers and accordingly emphasis on a social audit of works. 

Key Provisions

• Employment must be provided with 15 days of being demanded failing which an ‘Unemployment Allowance’ must be given.
• Gram Sabhas must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.
• All worksites should have facilities such as crèches, drinking water and first aid.
• There are provisions for proactive disclosure through wall writings, citizen information boards, Management Information Systems and Social audits.  Social audits are conducted by Gram Sabhas to enable the community to monitor the implementation of the Scheme.
• Funding is shared between the Centre and the States. There are three major items of expenditure – wages (for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour), material and administrative costs. 
• 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.