National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Context: The Central Government has announced that over ₹81,500 crore has been released to the states so far during the current financial year for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)
- The MGNREGA scheme was launched in the year 2005.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (funded by the Central Government).
- This scheme is implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
- It aims to guarantee a minimum of 100 days of wage employment to rural households within a financial year.
- The scheme focuses on enhancing livelihood security in rural areas.
- Adult members (aged 18 and above) of registered rural households are eligible to benefit from this scheme.
- Under Section 27 of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, if states fail to comply with the Central Government’s directives, funds allocated to those states will be withheld.
Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G)
- Under the new scheme, the guaranteed number of workdays has been increased to 125.
- A new financial sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Central and State governments regarding the scheme’s expenditure has also been introduced.
- The Central Government has stated that the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will remain operational until the new scheme is fully implemented and all pending works are completed.
