Why in the news?

• A parliamentary panel criticised the government for not increasing the allocation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), expressing concern that funding has remained static at Rs 86,000 crore since the revised estimates of 2023–24.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• Aim: It provides a legal right for 100 days of employment in every financial year to at least one member of every rural household whose adult members agree to do unskilled manual work.
• Features
  • Women were guaranteed one-third of the jobs made available under the MGNREGA.
  • The MGNREGA programme also helps in creating durable assets (such as roads, canals, ponds and wells).
  • Work to be provided within 5 km of workers’ residence and minimum wages are to be paid.
  • Right to get unemployment allowance in case employment is not provided within 15 days of applying.
  • The involvement of contractors is banned.
  • The Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which ensures accountability and transparency.
• Related Constitutional Provisions
  •  Article 16: Guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
  • Article 21: Guarantees the right to life with dignity to every citizen of India
  • Article 40: Mandates the State to organize village panchayats and award them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
  • Article 41: ‘Right to work
  • Article 46: State to promote the interests of and work for the economic uplift of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and protect them from discrimination and exploitation
• Associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
  • SDG 1: No Poverty
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being
  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduce Inequality