Shivraj Chouhan Clarifies New Rural Employment Law's Universality
Shivraj Chouhan defends new rural employment law, assures its universal application.
Photo by Markus Spiske
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has refuted claims that the new rural employment law, Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, is not universal. He clarified that the law remains universal and demand-driven, dismissing allegations made by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr.
Chouhan emphasized that the government has strengthened the law, allocating ₹9 lakh crore under MGNREGA, compared to the UPA government's ₹2 lakh crore. He also stated that instead of 100 days, the government is now providing 125 days of work.
Key Facts
New law: Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)
Allocation under MGNREGA: ₹9 lakh crore
Workdays provided: 125 days
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Connects to syllabus topics on poverty, unemployment, and rural development.
Potential question types: Statement-based, analytical, and scheme-related questions.
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Background
The roots of rural employment programs in India can be traced back to the early community development programs initiated in the 1950s. However, a more structured approach began with schemes like the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) in 1980 and the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) in 1983. These programs aimed to provide wage employment to the rural poor.
The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) in 2001 consolidated earlier efforts. The enactment of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005 marked a paradigm shift, legally guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households. Over the years, MGNREGA has evolved, incorporating provisions for social audits, grievance redressal, and a focus on asset creation.
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act represents the latest iteration in this ongoing evolution, building upon the foundation laid by MGNREGA while aiming for enhanced livelihood opportunities and rural development.
Latest Developments
In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on convergence of MGNREGA with other rural development schemes to maximize impact. Focus has also shifted towards durable asset creation and improving the quality of assets created under the scheme. There's been a growing debate on the effectiveness of MGNREGA in poverty reduction and its impact on rural wages.
The government has been exploring options to enhance the efficiency of the scheme through technological interventions, such as geo-tagging of assets and direct benefit transfer. The introduction of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act signals a potential shift towards a more comprehensive and demand-driven approach to rural employment, with a focus on providing 125 days of work. Future developments are likely to center on strengthening the convergence of various schemes, enhancing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and addressing concerns related to wage rates and timely payments.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act: 1. It aims to provide 125 days of wage employment to rural households. 2. The act is demand-driven, ensuring employment based on the needs of rural communities. 3. The act replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The VB-G RAM G Act aims to provide 125 days of employment and is demand-driven. Statement 3 is incorrect as the act builds upon and strengthens MGNREGA, rather than replacing it.
2. Which of the following is NOT a key feature of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?
- A.Legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment to rural households
- B.Focus on asset creation in rural areas
- C.Provision for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days
- D.Mandatory skill development training for all registered workers
Show Answer
Answer: D
Options A, B, and C are key features of MGNREGA. Option D is incorrect as MGNREGA does not mandate skill development training for all registered workers, although skill enhancement is often integrated into the program.
3. Assertion (A): The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through demand-driven employment. Reason (R): The act focuses on providing 125 days of work, addressing seasonal unemployment and promoting sustainable asset creation. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true, but R is false
- D.A is false, but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. The VB-G RAM G Act aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through demand-driven employment, and providing 125 days of work is a key component of this strategy.
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