The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) aims to enhance livelihood security for all adults willing to perform unskilled manual labour in rural areas. Any household is entitled to 100 days of employment in a financial year at a minimum daily wage rate. Work can be split among household members, but workers must be at least 18 years old. The Act envisages not only an immediate livelihood (through employing unskilled labour) but also long-term livelihood opportunities by creating sustainable assets in rural areas. This contributes to enhancing national resources (through water conservation, drought proofing, renovating water bodies, rural connectivity and so forth) and furthering sustainable development. MGNREGS’ planning process is unique among India’s government programmes. As a demand-driven, rightsbased programme, it begins at the village level. In a public meeting of the village community, the Gram Sabha, individuals and households register their interest in obtaining work. Thus, the initiative for developing projects rests with local government in response to grassroots demands.
- Individual beneficiary-oriented works can be taken up on the lands of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Backward Caste in India), small or marginal farmers or beneficiaries of land reforms.
- Within 15 days of submitting the application or from the daywork is demanded, wage employment must be provided to the applicant.
- Beneficiaries have the right to get unemployment allowance incase employment is not provided within fifteen days of submitting the application or from the date when work is sought.
- Notified Wages must be paid within fifteen days of work done.
- There are permissible works taken up of which some are related to agriculture and agriculture allied works which contributes in food security, some are related to Natural Resource Management (NRM) works and some are related to rural infrastructure works.
- The policy focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.
- This policy instrument priority shall begiven to women in a such way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work. Efforts to increase participation of single women and disabled shall be made.
- This policy instrument has provision for works creating individual assets shall be prioritized on land or homestead owned by households belonging to the Women-headed households.
- This policy instrument provides “Green” and “Decent” work.
- Social Audit of This policy instrument works is mandatory, which ensures accountability and transparency.
- This policy instrument works addresses the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) adopts the following approaches to address inequalities and include marginalized or vulnerable groups:
- The scheme guarantees employment for all rural households that demand work, ensuring inclusion irrespective of caste, gender, or socioeconomic status.
- Special provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), small or marginal farmers, and beneficiaries of government programs such as National Housing Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana -Gramin)
- At least 33% of the workforce must be women, encouraging female participation and economic empowerment. The scheme provides equal wages for men and women, promoting gender equity.
- Ensures the availability of childcare, drinking water, and shade at worksites to support women and families.
- Prioritizes works that benefit communities living in land-locked, isolated, or vulnerable regions, including pastoralist communities.
- Promotes agriculture-related and Natural Resource Management (NRM) projects to support farmers and enhance resilience to climate change.
- Decentralized governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) ensures accountability and responsiveness to local needs.
- Continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms ensure equitable access to resources and benefits.
- Incorporates works that address climate vulnerabilities, conserve natural resources, and create sustainable rural infrastructure
The Program is among the world’s largest social protection programs, offering up to 100 days of legally guaranteed employment per year to any rural household in India willing to engage in unskilled manual work at minimum state wages. Up to 2021-22, MGNREGS provided an average wage of USD 2.84 per day. On average, each rural household benefited from 50 days of work.
Coverage:
Districts: 740
Blocks: 7183
Gram Panchayat (Village Councils): 269040
Total Number of beneficiareis: 142.3 million Person-days generated (in million)
(Source: At a glance 19-August-2024)
Multi-level governance involving national government (budget, guidance, policies), States/Union Territories Government (rural development, and lines departments for the works related to the scheme) local level governments. Implementing agency' includes any Department of the Central Government or a State Government, a Zila Parishad, Panchayat (District Council) at intermediate level, Gram Panchayat (Village Council) or any local authority or government undertaking or non-governmental organization authorized by the Central Government or the State Government to undertake the implementation of any work taken up under a Scheme. User Associations recognized by the State Government may also be Implementing Agencies. At least fifty percent of the works in terms of cost shall be allotted to GPs (Village Council) for implementation. The officer of a Line Department at the Block/ District level can also work as Programme Officer (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), who will be referred to as PO(LD).
The Ministry of Rural Development has developed a work flow based, web enabled application known as NREGASoft, which is hosted at the portal accessible as https://nrega.nic.in. The NREGASoft provides for recording of all transaction details of different processes in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and putting the same in public domain. With this enabling architecture of NREGASoft, it is essential that States do timely reporting so that the public domain (https://nrega.nic.in) represents the picture of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS implementation almost on or close to real-time, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.
Synergies between social protection and rural development programmes for inclusive foodsystems (https://t20brasil.org/media/documentos/arquivos/TF01_ST02_Synergies_between_So66d76293093e9.pdf) - The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment GuaranteeScheme (MGNREGS) has demonstrated significant potential for improving the economic stability and productivity of rural households. Beneficiaries experience an increase in income due to new livelihood opportunities and the enhanced utility of existing resources.This growth is complemented by broader community benefits, including strengthened food security. Increased crop acreage, higher yields per acre, and greater crop diversity collectively boost agricultural productivity and resilience.
Income and Livelihood Promotion through Individual Assets under MGNREGS (https://www.epw.in/journal/2022/4/special-articles/income-and-livelihood-promotion-through-individual.html) - MGNREGS also promotes environmental conservation projects, like mangrove and bamboo plantations, that have mitigated issues like soil erosion, while pond renovations and check dams have improved water access for agriculture.Additionally, community infrastructure, including footbridges and markets, has enhanced connectivity and economic activity. Together, these initiatives showcase MGNREGS’s capacity to improve living standards, promote sustainable livelihoods, and support resilient rural communities across India.
Success Stories 2019-2020 Mahatma Gandhi NREGS State Mission- Kerala (https://nregs.kerala.gov.in/mgnregs/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Success-Stories.pdf). This report contains a long list of projects supported by the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS State Mission in Kerala during the 2019-2020 biennium. It presents brief descriptions of the projects as well as statistics (e.g.: number of employed, wage).
10 year review MGNREGA - NIRDPR (https://nirdpr.org.in/nird_docs/srsc/srsc261016-27.pdf)
- The 10-year review of MGNREGA, conducted by its implementing agency, the NIRDPR, did a survey of the existing evaluating literature and found that MGNREGA had a positive impact on households’ income, food security and health. Moreove,r it points out that the most important benefit according to workers themselves is the enhancing of self respect.
Study on MGNREGA - APR 2023 - IRE Journals - Volume 6 Issue 10 -ISSN: 2456-8880 (https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1704295.pdf)
The global literature review on MGNREGA suggests that the program has had a positive impact on the livelihoods of rural households in India, with a particular emphasis on women. The program has provided employment opportunities, increased wages, improved agricultural productivity, and reduced poverty. Additionally, MGNREGA has shown to reduce rural-urban migration, child labor, and improve school attendance.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ASSETS CREATED ON INDIVIDUAL LANDUNDER MGNREGA (https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/in/impact-evaluation-of-assets-created-on-individual-lands-under-mgnrega.PDF) This study indicates that: i) assets created under MGNREGA lead to generation of extra income; ii) shift from traditional agriculture to better remunerative crops; iii) improvement in cropping intensity; iv) improvement in land quality; v) increase in area under cultivation; vi) adoption of alternative sources of livelihood; vii) increase in household income; viii) improvement in credit worthiness.
More evidence is available at https://nregaplus.nic.in/netnrega/library.aspx, where there are related Important Documents, Training related documents, Publications and Research Studies etc.
- Adequate technical, administrative financial support needed for poverty alleviation, resource base for food security and livelihood, measures to undertaken for off-setting impact of climate change, natural resource management and development of rural infrastructure.
- Regularly train all programme staff, particularly at the local level and field functionaries;
- Issue of guidelines and advisories for proper execution of scheme
- Organisation of orientation workshops programme for all stakeholder
- Financial management as per rules starting from release of fund, procurements, transfer of fund to direct transfer of wages to beneficiaries account.
- Adoption of good governance practices needed
- Use of Software for Estimate Calculation Using Rural rates for Employment (SECURE) and use of web enabled application known as NREGASoft, which is hosted at the portal accessible as https://nrega.nic.in, which represents the picture of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS implementation almost on or close to real-time, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Use of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based planning
a) National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
b) State Institute of Rural Development
c) National Remote Sensing Centre - Indian Space Research
d) Organization
e) Line Ministries of Government of India
f) National Informatics Centre
g) German International Development Agency (GIZ)
h) United Nation Development Programme
i) United Nations Environment Programme International Labour Organization
SDG 1: No poverty
Target 1.1 - By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
- Indicator 1.1.1 - Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
Target 1.3 - Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- Indicator 1.3.1 - Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, new borns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable
SDG 2: End hunger
- Target 2.4 - By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
- Indicator 2.4.1 - Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- Indicator 5.1.1 - Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Target 8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
- Indicator 8.5.2 - Unemployment rate, by sex, age, persons with disabilities
SDG 15: Life on land
- Target 15.3 - By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
- Indicator 15.3.1 - Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
SDG 1: No poverty
Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
- Indicator 1.1.1 – Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
Target 1.3 – Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- Indicator 1.3.1 – Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, new borns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable
SDG 2: End hunger
- Target 2.4 – By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
- Indicator 2.4.1 – Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- Indicator 5.1.1 – Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Target 8.5 – By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
- Indicator 8.5.2 – Unemployment rate, by sex, age, persons with disabilities
SDG 15: Life on land
- Target 15.3 – By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
- Indicator 15.3.1 – Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) aims to enhance livelihood security for all adults willing to perform unskilled manual labour in rural areas. Any household is entitled to 100 days of employment in a financial year at a minimum daily wage rate. Work can be split among household members, but workers must be at least 18 years old. The Act envisages not only an immediate livelihood (through employing unskilled labour) but also long-term livelihood opportunities by creating sustainable assets in rural areas. This contributes to enhancing national resources (through water conservation, drought proofing, renovating water bodies, rural connectivity and so forth) and furthering sustainable development. MGNREGS’ planning process is unique among India’s government programmes. As a demand-driven, rightsbased programme, it begins at the village level. In a public meeting of the village community, the Gram Sabha, individuals and households register their interest in obtaining work. Thus, the initiative for developing projects rests with local government in response to grassroots demands.
- Individual beneficiary-oriented works can be taken up on the lands of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Backward Caste in India), small or marginal farmers or beneficiaries of land reforms.
- Within 15 days of submitting the application or from the daywork is demanded, wage employment must be provided to the applicant.
- Beneficiaries have the right to get unemployment allowance incase employment is not provided within fifteen days of submitting the application or from the date when work is sought.
- Notified Wages must be paid within fifteen days of work done.
- There are permissible works taken up of which some are related to agriculture and agriculture allied works which contributes in food security, some are related to Natural Resource Management (NRM) works and some are related to rural infrastructure works.
- The policy focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.
- This policy instrument priority shall begiven to women in a such way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work. Efforts to increase participation of single women and disabled shall be made.
- This policy instrument has provision for works creating individual assets shall be prioritized on land or homestead owned by households belonging to the Women-headed households.
- This policy instrument provides “Green” and “Decent” work.
- Social Audit of This policy instrument works is mandatory, which ensures accountability and transparency.
- This policy instrument works addresses the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) adopts the following approaches to address inequalities and include marginalized or vulnerable groups:
- The scheme guarantees employment for all rural households that demand work, ensuring inclusion irrespective of caste, gender, or socioeconomic status.
- Special provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), small or marginal farmers, and beneficiaries of government programs such as National Housing Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana -Gramin)
- At least 33% of the workforce must be women, encouraging female participation and economic empowerment. The scheme provides equal wages for men and women, promoting gender equity.
- Ensures the availability of childcare, drinking water, and shade at worksites to support women and families.
- Prioritizes works that benefit communities living in land-locked, isolated, or vulnerable regions, including pastoralist communities.
- Promotes agriculture-related and Natural Resource Management (NRM) projects to support farmers and enhance resilience to climate change.
- Decentralized governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) ensures accountability and responsiveness to local needs.
- Continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms ensure equitable access to resources and benefits.
- Incorporates works that address climate vulnerabilities, conserve natural resources, and create sustainable rural infrastructure
- Adequate technical, administrative financial support needed for poverty alleviation, resource base for food security and livelihood, measures to undertaken for off-setting impact of climate change, natural resource management and development of rural infrastructure.
- Regularly train all programme staff, particularly at the local level and field functionaries;
- Issue of guidelines and advisories for proper execution of scheme
- Organisation of orientation workshops programme for all stakeholder
- Financial management as per rules starting from release of fund, procurements, transfer of fund to direct transfer of wages to beneficiaries account.
- Adoption of good governance practices needed
- Use of Software for Estimate Calculation Using Rural rates for Employment (SECURE) and use of web enabled application known as NREGASoft, which is hosted at the portal accessible as https://nrega.nic.in, which represents the picture of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS implementation almost on or close to real-time, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Use of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based planning
Access to irrigation; Access to basic drinking water and sanitation services, and hygiene facilities; Integrated programmes for climate and shock resilience, including programmes related to anticipatory, adaptive and shock-responsive social protection; Support to livelihood diversification
a) National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
b) State Institute of Rural Development
c) National Remote Sensing Centre – Indian Space Research
d) Organization
e) Line Ministries of Government of India
f) National Informatics Centre
g) German International Development Agency (GIZ)
h) United Nation Development Programme
i) United Nations Environment Programme International Labour Organization
Multi-level governance involving national government (budget, guidance, policies), States/Union Territories Government (rural development, and lines departments for the works related to the scheme) local level governments. Implementing agency’ includes any Department of the Central Government or a State Government, a Zila Parishad, Panchayat (District Council) at intermediate level, Gram Panchayat (Village Council) or any local authority or government undertaking or non-governmental organization authorized by the Central Government or the State Government to undertake the implementation of any work taken up under a Scheme. User Associations recognized by the State Government may also be Implementing Agencies. At least fifty percent of the works in terms of cost shall be allotted to GPs (Village Council) for implementation. The officer of a Line Department at the Block/ District level can also work as Programme Officer (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), who will be referred to as PO(LD).
The Program is among the world’s largest social protection programs, offering up to 100 days of legally guaranteed employment per year to any rural household in India willing to engage in unskilled manual work at minimum state wages. Up to 2021-22, MGNREGS provided an average wage of USD 2.84 per day. On average, each rural household benefited from 50 days of work.
Coverage:
Districts: 740
Blocks: 7183
Gram Panchayat (Village Councils): 269040
Total Number of beneficiareis: 142.3 million Person-days generated (in million)
(Source: At a glance 19-August-2024)
The Ministry of Rural Development has developed a work flow based, web enabled application known as NREGASoft, which is hosted at the portal accessible as https://nrega.nic.in. The NREGASoft provides for recording of all transaction details of different processes in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and putting the same in public domain. With this enabling architecture of NREGASoft, it is essential that States do timely reporting so that the public domain (https://nrega.nic.in) represents the picture of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS implementation almost on or close to real-time, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability.