Question

What is the primary objective of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)?

• A. To promote inclusive growth
• B. To enhance livelihood security by providing guaranteed wage employment
• C. To strengthen natural resource management
• D. To alleviate poverty in urban areas

Answer 1

Answer:

B. To enhance livelihood security by providing guaranteed wage employment

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) - Key Aspects for Competitive Exams

• Primary Objective: The core aim of NREGA (now Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act - MGNREGA) is to strengthen livelihood security for rural households.

• Guaranteed Employment: It provides a legal guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

• Focus on Rural Poor: The scheme specifically targets the rural poor, aiming to provide them with a safety net and a source of income during lean periods.

• Poverty Alleviation: By guaranteeing employment, NREGA plays a significant role in poverty reduction and improving the living standards of the rural population.

• Asset Creation: A crucial aspect of NREGA is its focus on creating durable assets and strengthening the rural infrastructure, such as roads, canals, ponds, and other water conservation structures. This contributes to long-term rural development.

• Decentralized Planning: Implementation involves Gram Panchayats, Block Panchayats, and Zila Parishads, fostering decentralized planning and execution.

• Legal Right: NREGA is unique in that it provides employment as a legal right, not just a government program.

• Women Empowerment: The Act mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries must be women, promoting women's participation in the workforce and economic empowerment.

• Social Inclusion: It aims to include marginalized sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), in the employment generation process.