Vol. 2, Issue 12, Part B (2016)

Abstract
Since India’s Independence various measures have been taken up to create large scale employment opportunities in rural areas. But, these steps are mainly in the nature of relief works and not in the nature of permanent creation of job opportunities. These programmes failed to yield desired goals. As such the UPA government which came to power in 2004, in its Common Minimum Programme promised to provide guaranteed 100 days employment in a financial year to the unskilled rural poor. To keep up the promise the UPA government initiated and enacted Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in 2005, under which 100 days employment was guaranteed to the rural poor. The programme was formally launched on 2nd February 2006. Under the scheme there are provisions for average minimum wages, wage and material ratio. There is a specified institutional mechanism for the implementation of the scheme from Central level to Village level. Initially the scheme was launched in 200 districts of the country. At present the scheme covers all rural districts in the country. In this paper an attempt is made to study the phase-wise and state wise coverage of districts under Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act at national level. The job card and work details, working status of different categories under MGNREGS at national level and financial inclusion efforts under MGNREGS at national level were also covered in this paper.