MGNREGA completes 10 years of implementation

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005  completes ten years of implementation.
On this occasion, Union Ministry of Rural Development had organised MGNREGA SAMMELAN in New Delhi to highlight achievements MGNREGA. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was Chief Guest in the Sammelan.
About Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005  

• MGNREGA is a flagship rural job guarantee scheme that was announced by the then UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February 2006.
• The scheme aims at providing 100 days wage employment to every household to ensure livelihood security in rural areas.
• It also aimed at sustainable development to address the cause of drought, deforestation and soil erosion.
• One third (33 per cent) proposed jobs in the scheme have been reserved for the women.
• Union Ministry of Rural Development is nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme.

Status of Implementation

• Since its implementation began the total expenditure on the scheme has amounted to over 3 lakh crore rupees. Out of this, 71% has been spent on wage payments to workers.
• The percentage of Scheduled Caste (SC) workers has consistently been about 20% and Scheduled Tribe (ST) workers has been about 17%. Women participation has rose to 57% well above the statutory requirement of 33%.
• Over 1,980 crore person-days employment have been generated in the programme. More than 65% of the works taken under MGNREGA are linked to agriculture and allied activities.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016