What is NREGA 2005? What are its important features? 5 marks
NREGA is now known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Important features of NREGA 2005:
(i) Every household in the rural areas of India shall have a right to at least 100 days of guaranteed employment every year for at least one adult member, for doing casual manual labour at the rate of Rupees 60 per day;
(ii) The Programme may also provide, as far as possible, for the training and up-gradation of the skills of unskilled labourers;
(iii) Wages may be paid in cash or in kind or both.
(iv) Employment shall be provided within a radius of 5 kilometres of the village where the applicant resides at the time of applying. In cases where employment is provided outside such radius, it must be provided within the Block, and transport allowances and daily living allowances shall be paid in accordance with Programme Rules.
(v) If work is not provided within 15 days, applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance: one third of the wage rate for the first 30 days, and one half thereafter.
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