What are the main features of MGNREGA?
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) offers a legal guarantee of wage employment to adult members of rural households who are willing to engage in unskilled manual labor.
The scheme ensures up to 100 days of employment per household each year. It applies to all villages within the district, and any rural household has the right to register under MGNREGA to avail of its benefits.
Upon registration, job cards are issued to households within 15 days of submitting their application. These job cards serve as proof of eligibility and allow registered members to seek employment under the scheme. Employment can be requested either through a group or an individual application, with a minimum of 10 job seekers required to sanction new work under MGNREGA.
Work must be provided within a 5 km radius of the applicant’s village. If the work site is beyond this limit, an additional 10% of the minimum wage is granted as compensation for the extra distance. If the State Government fails to provide employment to families demanding work, they are required to pay a compensatory daily unemployment allowance.
This allowance is 25% of the minimum wage for the first 30 days, and half of the wage for the remaining period of the year.
Wages for unskilled labor are determined by the State Minimum Wage rates as outlined under the Minimum Wages Act of 1948. As of the current guidelines, the wage rate stands at Rs. 117 per day for unskilled labor and Rs. 120 for skilled labor. MGNREGA ensures equal pay for men and women, and wages must be paid within 15 days of the work being completed.
The scheme also mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries be women, promoting gender inclusion in the workforce. Additionally, worksite facilities such as crèches, drinking water, and shade must be provided to ensure the well-being of workers while on site.
This comprehensive set of provisions under MGNREGA not only aims to reduce rural poverty but also contributes to the empowerment of marginalized communities by providing fair wages and ensuring basic worker rights.
An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University.