Question

Write a short note on National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005).

Hint:

NREGA is a pioneering law guaranteeing rural employment and fostering inclusive growth in India.

Answer 1

The
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
, enacted in 2005, is a landmark social security legislation in India aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas.
Key Features:


It guarantees
100 days of wage employment
per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
The Act aims to create
durable assets
like roads, canals, ponds, and wells to improve rural infrastructure.
It promotes
social inclusion
, ensuring employment for marginalized communities including women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes.
Wages are paid according to minimum wage rates fixed by the government.
It empowers local self-government bodies (Panchayati Raj Institutions) to implement and monitor the scheme.

Impact:
- NREGA has played a significant role in reducing rural poverty and unemployment. - It has also contributed to rural development by improving infrastructure and promoting social equity.