Geographical analysis

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA seeks to enhance the 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 Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal Ministry for implementing the MGNREGA. This flagship programme of the Government of India touches the lives of the rural poor and promotes inclusive growth. The primary objective of the Act is augmenting wage employment. Its auxiliary objective is strengthening natural resource management through works that address causes of chronic poverty like drought, deforestation and soil erosion and so encourage sustainable development. The Act was notified in 200 districts in the first phase with effect from 2nd February 2006 and then extended to additional 130 districts in the financial year 2007-08.