The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was notified in September, 2005 and came into effect on February 2, 2006 in 200 of India's most backward districts. However, from April 1, 2008 the Act covers all of rural India. It provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work at the minimum wage rate notified for agricultural labour prescribed in the state or else an unemployment allowance. The objective of the Act is to supplement wage employment opportunities in rural areas.
Some of the key features:
- 100 days of employment to a local rural household if it demands it and is willing to do unskilled manual work
- A Job Card is necessary for demanding employment under NREGA.
- A family must apply for a job card in writing / orally to the local Gram Panchayat for registration under NREGS
- A job card with photographs to a family as a whole will be issued that applies for registration within 15 days by the Gram Panchayat after verification.
- A written application by a Job Card holding family to the Gram Panchayat or Programme Officer is necessary for demanding employment
- All adult members whose names are on the Job Card can apply for employment. The entitlement of 100 days of employment in a financial year is for a household as an aggregate.
There are some basic work site facilities including safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first-aid box for emergency treatment of minor injuries and other health hazards connected with work.
Creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor is one of the main objectives of the Scheme. Following are Permissible works under this Scheme:
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Water Conservation
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Drought proofing (including plantation and afforestation)
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Flood control and protection works including drainage in water logged areas
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Land development
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Minor irrigation, horticulture and land development on the land of SC / ST / BPL / Indira Awas Yojana and land reform beneficiaries.
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Rural connectivity to provide all-weather access
The most important aspect of this Scheme is ensuring that there are a sufficient number of works that are available to respond to the demand for employment within 15 days of demand. The role of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat in planning process is that the Gram Sabha should identify and recommend works and the Gram Panchayat should consolidate and send the recommendations of Gram Sabha to the Programme Officer.