Govt likely to rename MGNREGA employment scheme, propose Rs 1.51 lakh crore allocation
As part of the move, the government plans to introduce the Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Bill, under which the rural poor would be assured 125 days of employment in a year, up from the existing provision. An allocation of Rs 1.51 lakh crore has been proposed for the scheme.
New Delhi: The government is expected to clear a proposal to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rojgar Yojna, sources said.
As part of the move, the government plans to introduce the Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Bill, under which the rural poor would be assured 125 days of employment in a year, up from the existing provision. An allocation of Rs 1.51 lakh crore has been proposed for the scheme.
The employment programme was originally enacted as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA) and was later renamed MGNREGA. It is a key labour law and social security measure designed to guarantee the "right to work”. The scheme aims to strengthen livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members are willing to undertake unskilled manual work.