International Journal of Science Technology & Management www.ijstm.com Volume No.04, Special Issue No.01, February 2015 ISSN (Print) 2394-1529, (Online) 2394-1537 326 | Page MGNREGA: ITS IMPLICATION IN INDIA: A OVERVIEW Navneet Seth BHSBIET, LEHRAGAGA (Pb.) INDIA ABSTRACT The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme was started by Govt. of India in lieu to provide atleast 100 days employment to people at the rural level. Its major aim was to strength the rural society. The Indian Govt. has contributed huge capital in this scheme and almost every year this amount is increased. After 8 years of its launch, this scheme has given the mixed results. As MGNREGA is started all over India, we can easily analyze both the positive and negative effects of this scheme with this paper. In some parts it has made the people especially women self dependent and increased the employment rate while in some parts a number of reports regarding the corrupt activities in MGNREGA, non availability of work, biasness regarding distribution of work had come. This paper aims at providing an overview of MGNREGA‟s implementation in several parts of India. Keywords: MGNREGA, Employment Guarantee, Labour, Rural Areas, Income, Standard Of Living, Women Upliftment. I INTRODUCTION The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a flagship program of Government of India. The Act was notified initially in 200 most backward districts of the country w.e.f. February 02, 2006 and subsequently extended all over India in two phases. The program aims at enhancing livelihood security of the rural poor by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act seeks to create durable assets and strengthen the livelihood resource base of the rural poor. The choice of works suggested in the Act address causes of chronic poverty like drought, deforestation, soil erosion, so that the process of employment generation is on a sustainable basis. 1.1 Salient Features of MGNREGA All adult members of a rural household willing to do unskilled manual work have the right to demand employment. After verification, the Gram Panchayat will issue a Job Card with photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under the program. Job Cardholder can apply for work to the Gram Panchayat which will issue him/her a dated receipt of the work application. Employment will be provided by the Gram Panchayat (local self governing body) within 15 days of work application, failing which unemployment allowance will be paid. Disbursement of wages has to be done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight. Wages will be paid at the wage