What is the goal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act?

The correct answer is Ensure at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year..

Key Points

• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) aims to enhance 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.
• MGNREGA was enacted in September 2005 and is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
• The scheme focuses on ensuring social inclusion by strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor.
• Employment under MGNREGA must be provided within 15 days of the application for work, failing which the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance.
• The Act also mandates the creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor.

Additional Information

• Job Card:
  • A Job Card is issued to every household that has adult members willing to do unskilled manual work. It contains details of the registered adult members of the household.
• Social Audits:
  • Social audits are conducted to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of MGNREGA.
  • They involve the scrutiny of all records and processes of the scheme by the community.
• Asset Creation:
  • MGNREGA focuses on the creation of durable assets such as roads, canals, ponds, and wells, which help in improving the livelihood resource base of the rural poor.
• Wage Payment:
  • Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the state, unless the central government notifies a wage rate.
  • Payments are made directly to the bank or post office accounts of the workers.