The main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 are:

Quick Scoop

  • It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
  • It aims to improve livelihood security in rural areas and support sustainable development through works like water conservation, drought proofing, and land development.
  • At least one-third of the jobs are meant for women.
  • Work must be provided through the local system, with a job card and time-bound employment process.
  • If employment is not provided on time, the law provides for an unemployment allowance.

Main Features

Feature| What it means
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Guaranteed work| 100 days of wage employment per rural household in a year. 13
Rural livelihood security| The law is designed to reduce rural distress and strengthen income support. 28
Women’s participation| One-third of the jobs are reserved for women. 35
Local implementation| Registration and work demand are handled through the Gram Panchayat and job cards. 23
Unemployment allowance| If work is not given within the prescribed time, compensation becomes due. 7
Asset creation| Works focus on water, drought proofing, irrigation, land development, flood control, and rural connectivity. 36

In Simple Words

This Act was meant to give rural families a safety net by ensuring paid work close to home, while also creating useful public assets. It is one of India’s best-known social welfare laws because it combines employment support with rural development.

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