How to be benefited from NREGA

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was initiated in 2005 by the central government applicable for the entire country for the welfare of labourers and enabling them daily job.

Broadly speaking, the NREGA is an Act to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

The act was initially launched in 200 selected districts and was extended to 130 more districts in 2007-08. It has now been extended to all other remaining districts from April, 2008 onwards.

In the initial Act, it was provision for one adult man of one household to get job under NREGA. But, in 2008, Union Minister for Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that every adult member in a single household will be considered as a household and will be entitled to get the job under the Scheme.

Although it's been three years since its inception and many people knows about the scheme, but there are a number of people, who are still unknown of how to be benefited through the NREGA scheme devised for them.

Considering their problem in mind here is a solution for such full of beans people, which can guide them in discarding their entire dilemma related to scheme. First of all, to exercise this right the rural households must obtain a Job Card.

NREGA- A legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

What is a JOB CARD?
A Job Card is the basic legal document, which enables the registered household to demand guaranteed employment. A Job Card is a record of a worker's rights. It is valid for five years.
Employment guarantee is provided by Job Card only.

How to get JOB CARD?
The applicant should apply orally or in written to the Gram Panchayat. The Job Card is issued to the household as a whole. It will have the names, and photographs of each registered member of that household.
The entire registration process is free of cost and the registered household does not have to pay for a Job Card and the photographs.

The Job Card will be issued within 15 days of the application. A complaint may be filled with the Programme Officer at the Block level or District Programme Coordinator in case of non-receipt of the Job Card.

How to get employment under NREGA?

-Registering with the Gram Panchayat and obtaining a Job Card with unique registration number and photograph. -Submitting a written application with the Job Card number for employment to the Gram Panchayat. -Obtaining a dated receipt from the Gram Panchayat.

Duties of a Job Cardholder

-The Job Card should necessarily remain in the custody of the wage earner only and not shared with anyone. -The days of work and wages entered in the Job Card should be accurate. -In case of complaints regarding Job Card entries the Programme Officer/District Programme Officer may be contacted.