NREGA / MGNREGA

NREGA stands for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which is an Indian labor law and social security measure that aims to provide employment and livelihood opportunities to people living in rural areas. The act was passed in 2005 and renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Under the act, any rural household with adult members willing to do unskilled manual work is guaranteed 100 days of employment in a financial year. The work provided under the scheme includes activities such as water conservation, land development, and rural infrastructure development. The program also aims to empower women by ensuring that at least one-third of the workers are women.

The scheme provides a safety net to rural households by providing employment opportunities, increasing rural income and consumption, and strengthening the rural economy. It also aims to provide a boost to agriculture and rural development by improving productivity and enhancing rural infrastructure.

Here’s a concise overview of NREGA / MGNREGA:

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) / Mahatma Gandhi NREGA (MGNREGA)

Purpose:
Provides a legal guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
Enacted:
Passed in 2005 and renamed as MGNREGA to honor Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of rural self-reliance.
Key Features:
- Focus on unskilled manual labor such as water conservation, land development, rural infrastructure.
- Ensures at least one-third of workers are women to promote gender equality.
- Empowers rural communities by providing livelihood security and social safety nets.
Objectives:
- Increase rural income and consumption.
- Strengthen rural economy and agriculture.
- Enhance rural infrastructure and productivity.