MGNREGA provided social and economic security to rural poor

MGNREGA has provided social and economic security to rural poor, says Government The Government supported institutions to conduct independent assessments of MGNREGA on different aspects of Indian Economy in its findings suggest that the rural job scheme has been an instrument for social and economic security. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Shri Pradeep Jain said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the multiplier effects of the programme include livelihood diversification in rural areas and increase in availability of work. The framework and provisions of the MGNREGA also contribute towards the larger objective of generating productive employment, empowering rural women and promoting social equity, besides contributing in improvement in ground water, improved agricultural productivity and cropping intensity and reduction in water, agriculture and livelihood vulnerability index. The Minister informed that the following amendments to para 1 of Schedule I of MGNREG Act have been carried out to enlarge the scope of works and activities that can be taken up and notifications for the same were issued:

(i) Irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities to land owned by small farmes or marginal farmers as defined in the Agriculture Debt Waiver and Debit Relief Scheme, 2008.

(ii) Construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra as Village Knowlege Resource Centre and Grm Panchayat Bhawan at Gram Panchayat level.

(iii) Irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities for the beneficiaries under the Scheduled tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.

(iv) Access to sanitation facilities in convergence with the Total Sanitation Campaign of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

(v) Construction of play grounds in districts as identified by the central Government for Integrated Action Plan.