MNREGA offers a unique, right – based guarantee of employment to reduce poverty and ensures food security in rural areas. India is the first such country in the world where guaranteed employment scheme in rural areas has been enacted. This program was started on 2 February 2006 and was implemented in the entire country on 1^st April 2008. At present, working days in MNREGA have been increased to 150 from 100 per year.

Role of MNREGA in India: MNREGA is a demand – based plan under which water conservation, forestry, land development, flood control, construction and repair of roads, etc. programs have been included. With the help of MNREGA, purchasing power of every engaged labourer has increased and it also has affected the private sector so that the wages have increased in private sector.

In the year 2004 – 15, Rs. 33,000 crore were allotted for MNREGA, while in the year 2012 – 13, Rs. 30,000 crore were invested on the project by the Central Government of India. In 2013 – 14, about 4.39 crore families got employment through MNREGA. At the National level, the wages which were only ? 65 per day per capita in 2006-07 were increased to Rs.181 per day in 2015.

The Objectives of MNREGA In India: 

For implementing MNREGA in India, the following aims have been fixed.

1. Providing unskilled work for rural population in the rural areas. 

2. Ensuring complete openness and ownership in the governance. 

3. Formation of rural assets of utility. 

4. Ensuring sustainable development by developing natural resources such as land and water. 

5. Providing an important role to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. 

6. Providing a security system to the rural poor and giving encouragement to local economy. 

7. Ensuring empowerment of rural women.

In this way, MNREGA 2005 is a major piece of legislation which reaffirmed position of India as being a we’fare state. At the present time, it is widely hailed as definitely securing social justice to every section of society, which had until then remained largely ignored and sidelined.