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  • Jul 12, 2021
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“MGNREGA is a very important scheme in regard with the economy of India”. Substantiate this statement.

Introduction:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) is an important scheme in terms of employment generation. It was launched February 2005. The scheme provides assured job for 100 days in an year to every household in the rural area. Thus ensuring there is sufficient income for them to lead the life

Body:

It is one of the largest work guarantee schemes of the world. One third of the scheme is reserved for women. The scheme is decentralized but funded by the central government. The scheme also builds infrastructure and helps in capacity building. The unskilled workers are ensured minimum payment under the scheme. Since the system is transparent, the remuneration is transferred directly to the accounts of these workers. Sufficient number of amendments have been done to the scheme.

There are certain challenges such as incomplete work, misuse by panchayats, fabrication of fake job cards and also the inadequate financing by central government. In some states payments are not being done in a timely manner thus diluting the scheme.

Conclusion:

Due to pandemic situation there is a problem of migration of workers. Suitable short and long term measusres should be devised so that the scheme will contribute to fight the pandemic and provide livelihood for rural people. Also, some of them MGNREGA worksites are turning out to be Covid-19 hotspots. Sufficient care should be taken to mitigate such problems.