Preface
Brief history:
irregularity of Rainfall and frequent droughts have become a matter of serious concern for the state government. Drought conditions create scarcity of food, employment and water in rural areas of the state. Therefore, to reduce the threat and side effects of drought on the rural people, the Government of Maharashtra has taken permanent and long-term measures by employing unskilled laborers. and conservation of natural resources in rural areas and forest, soil and water management etc. during severe drought in the state.
In view of all the above, the state legislature passed the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 and made it applicable throughout the state. Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched under this Act and two different schemes were implemented across the state.
1. A scheme to guarantee employment to all adults living in rural areas of the state and willing to do manual labour.
2. Personal benefit scheme as per section 12 (e) of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme Act, 1977.
During the year 2005, the Parliament of India passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (currently known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and made it applicable across India. According to Section 28 of this Act in the State in which a law exists or has been enacted to provide guarantee of employment to rural families for unskilled manual labor work consistent with the provisions of this Act, Under which the right of employment is provided to the families. The State Government shall have the option of implementing this Act which is not inferior to the guarantee provided under this Act
Accordingly, the Government of Maharashtra has adopted the option of keeping the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 in the year 2006. However, in 2014, the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly made the necessary amendments to the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 to provide funds to the state after the MNREGA Act 2005, thus changing the scheme’s implementation procedure and bringing the above amended law into effect in the state.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) (MGNREGA 2005 Act):
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 was notified on 7 September 2005. The scheme designed to implement this Act in the state is called Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme-Maharashtra.
Mandate of MREGS:
A major objective of MGNREGA is to guarantee employment for at least 100 days in a financial year to every rural family whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual labour.
Main Objectives of MREGS :
- To provide unskilled manual labor for at least 100 days in a financial year to every household in rural areas on demand, resulting in generation of prescribed quality and sustainable productive capacity.
- Strengthening the livelihood base of the poor.
- Actively ensuring social inclusion.
- Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions