About MGNREGA

=> The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) is Indian legislation enacted on August 25, 2005. The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments

=> This act was introduced with an aim of improving the purchasing power of the rural people, primarily semi or un-skilled work to people living below poverty line in rural India. It attempts to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in the country. Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.

=> Adult members of rural households submit their name, age and address with photo to the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat registers households after making enquiry and issues a job card. The job card contains the details of adult member enrolled and his /her photo. Registered person can submit an application for work in writing (for at least fourteen days of continuous work) either to Panchayat or to Programme Officer.

=> The Panchayat/Programme officer will accept the valid application and issue dated receipt of application, letter providing work will be sent to the applicant and also displayed at Panchayat office. The employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra wage will be paid.

Key facts that users should know about MNREGA

1. MGNREGA guarantees hundred days of wage employment in a financial year, to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

2. Individual beneficiary oriented works can be taken up on the cards of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, small or marginal farmers or beneficiaries of land reforms or beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas Yojana of the Government of India.

3. Within 15 days of submitting the application or from the day work is demanded, wage employment will be provided to the applicant.

4. Right to get unemployment allowance in case employment is not provided within fifteen days of submitting the application or from the date when work is sought.

5. Receipt of wages within fifteen days of work done.

6. Variety of permissible works which can be taken up by the Gram Panchayaths.

7. MGNREGA focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.

8. MGNREGA provides “Green” and “Decent” work.

9. Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which lends to accountability and transparency.

10. MGNREGA works address the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources.

11. The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands. It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fix their priority.

Implementation Status

=> The scheme was introduced in 200 districts during financial year 2006-07 and 130 districts during the financial year 2007-08

=> In April 2008 NREGA expanded to entire rural area of the country covering 34 States and Union Territories, 614 Districts, 6,096 Blocks and 2.65 lakhs Gram Panchayat.

Relationship between Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and Mahatma Gandhi NREGS

Activities covered under MGNREGA

Permissible activities as stipulated in Para 1 of Schedule-I of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA are as under:

=> Union Rural Development Ministry has notified works under MGNREGA, majority of which are related to agricultural and allied activities, besides the works that will facilitate rural sanitation projects in a major way.

=> The works have been divided into 10 broad categories like Watershed, Irrigation and Flood management works, Agricultural and Livestock related works, Fisheries and works in coastal areas and the Rural Drinking water and Sanitation related works.

=> Briefing the MGNREGA 2.0 (the second generation reforms for the rural job scheme) the priority of the works will be decided by the Gram Panchayats in meetings of the Gram Sabhas and the Ward Sabhas.

=> The Rural development also informed that the 30 new works being added in the Schedule 1 will also help the

=> Rural sanitation projects, as for the first time toilet building, soak pits and solid and liquid waste management have been included under MGNREGA. Though the overall 60:40 ratio of labour and material component will be maintained at the Gram Panchayat level but there will be some flexibility in the ratio for certain works based on the practical requirements.

=> Construction of AWC building has been included as an approved activity under the MGNREG Act. ‘Guidelines for construction of Anganwadi Centres’ under MGNREGS have been issued jointly by Secretary, WCD and Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, on 13th August, 2015. Under MGNREGS, expenditure up to Rs.5 lakh per AWC building for construction will be allowed. Expenditure beyond Rs. 5 lakh per AWC including finishing, flooring, painting, plumbing, electrification, wood work, etc. will be met from the ICDS funds.

MGNREGA Works Directly Linked To Agriculture and Allied Activities

Salient Features of MGNREGA

• Gives legal guarantee of wage employment to the adult members of rural households who are willing to do unskilled manual labour subject to a maximum of 100 days per household
• Applicable for all villages in the District
• Every rural household has the right to register under MGNREGA
• Job cards issued to every household registered under MGNREGA
• Job cards issued within 15 days from the date of receipt of application for the job card registration
• The registered job card holders can seek employment by giving a group / individual application
• A minimum of 10 job seekers shall apply to sanction a new work under MGNREGA
• Employment provided by sanctioning one of the works under “Shelf of Works” as identified and prioritized by the village community within 15 days from the date of receipt of applications for providing employment under MGNREGA
• The village community has the right to choose works under 8 permissible categories of works
• “Shelf of works” will be identified by the village community for 5 yrs which can be taken up in their villages as per the job demand and entitled persondays
• The works proposed by the village community cannot be altered by anyone unless they are not in conformity with the guidelines of MGNREGA
• The work shall be provided within 5 kms jurisdiction from the village
• If the work provided is beyond 5 Kms, the job seekers shall be given 10% of the minimum wages as additional amount
• State Govt. to pay 25% of minimum wage for the 1st 30 days as compensatory daily unemployment allowance on failure to provide employment for the families demanding the works under MGNREG Act, and ½ of wage for remaining period of the year
• Wages are paid according to State Minimum Wage rate notified under Minimum Wages Act 1948. The current wage rate is Rs.117/- for all unskilled work and Rs. 120/- for skilled labour.
• Equal payment for men and women
• Wages to be paid within a fortnight
• 1/3 beneficiaries should be women
• Work site facilities such as creche, drinking water and shade have to be provided
• 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained for all works undertaken under NREGA
• No contractors and machinery allowed
• Grievance redressal mechanism to be set up for ensuring a responsive implementation process
• Social Audit is a must for all the works implemented under NREGA. The details of Social Audit conducted during 2010-11 and 2011-12 (up to the month of May)
• Provisions of RTI Act shall be applicable in Letter & Spirit to ensure transparency and accountability
• The office of the Ombudsman is vested with the following powers in order to redress grievances under MGNREGA:
• Receive complaints from NREGA workers and facilitate their disposal in accordance with law
• Require the NREGA Authority complained against to provide any information or Issue direction for conducting spot investigation
• Lodge FIRs against the erring parties
• Initiate proceedings suo motu in the event of any circumstance arising jurisdiction that may cause any grievance
• Engage experts for facilitating the disposal of the complaint
• Direct redressal, disciplinary and punitive actions
• Report his findings to the Chief Secretary of the State and the Secretary, State
• Nodal Department for appropriate legal action against erring persons.