Main Article Content

Abstract

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of 2005, the world’s largest public works programme ever, provides basic social security for rural workers: a universal and legally enforceable right to 129 days of employment per rural household on local public works at minimum wage/ Labourers who are not given work within 15 days of asking for it are entitled to unemployment benefits. The government’s biggest welfare programme could see an almost 60 percent increase in funding. The forthcoming Budget is likely to make a provision of Rs.64,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in 2011-12, against Rs.40,100 crore in the current fiscal. According to the latest figures, the Centre would have disbursed about Rs.25, 000 crore until end January on the programme, against an allocation of Rs.40, 100 crore for 2010-11 the scheme was introduced in February 2005 in 200 districts and has since been extended to all 614 districts. Te total outlay for the programme in 2008-2009 was Rs.16, 000 crore. It more than doubled to Rs.39,100 crore in 2009-10. It further increased to Rs.40, 100 crore in 2010-11. No other porgramme has seen such a massive jump in government spending. With the linking to CPI, wages under the scheme are higher than the minimum wage in 20 states. Though civil rights groups have been protesting the Central Government’s decision not to link the two – three are ongoing court cases in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka – the Act governing the scheme gives the Central government discretion to set wages under it. The MGNREGS rank among the most powerful initiatives ever undertaken for transformation of rural livelihoods in India. The unprecedented commitment financial resource is matched only by its imaginative architecture that promises a radically fresh programme of rural development. EGS means it is a Government manage, to people giving employment; it’s a picture of common man’s mind. Middle people considered Government take tax for this scheme. Right to work, it is important right given by EGS to people. Through MGNREGS going on some work in drought area such as irrigation, forestation, and help the village development etc. to reduce poverty and unemployment.

Article Details