Question

What are the salient features of the MNREGA scheme?

Answer 1

1. Adult members of a rural household who are willing to do unskilled manual work may apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat.
2. The Gram Panchayat, after due verification, will issue a Job Card. The Job Card will bear the photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under MGNREGA. This will be done free of cost.
3. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application.
4. A Job Cardholder may submit a written application for employment to the Gram Panchayat, stating the time and duration for which work is sought. The minimum days of employment have to be at least 14.
5. The Gram Panchayat will issue a dated receipt of the written application for employment, against which the guarantee of providing employment within 15 days operates.
6. Employment will be given within 15 days of application for work, and if it is not, then daily unemployment allowance, as per the Act, has to be paid. The liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the state government.
7. Work should ordinarily be provided within a 5 km radius of the village. In case the work is provided beyond 5 km, extra wages of 103 are payable to meet the additional transportation and living expenses.
8. Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, for agricultural labourers in the state unless the Centre notifies a wage rate that will not be less than ₹ 60 per day. Equal wages will be provided to both men and women.
9. Wages are to be paid according to the piece rate or daily rate. Disbursement of wages has to be done on a weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case.
10. At least one-third of beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested work under the scheme.
11. Work site facilities such as creche, drinking water, shade, etc., have to be provided.
12. The shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the Gram Sabha and approved by the Zila Panchayat.
13. At least 50 percent of the works will be allotted to Gram Panchayats for execution.
14. Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, forestation, and land development works.
15. A 60:40 wage and material ratio have to be maintained. No contractors and machinery are allowed.
16. The Central Government bears the 100 percent wage cost of unskilled manual labour and 75 percent of the material cost, including the wages of skilled and semi skilled workers.
17. A social audit has to be done by the Gram Sabha.
18. Grievance redressal mechanisms have to be put in place to ensure a responsive implementation process.
19. All accounts and records relating to the scheme should be available for public scrutiny.