MGNREGS and UNNATI PROJECT

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• The ‘Unnati’ project was launched to provide skill training to existing workers of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), to reduce their dependency on the scheme.
  • Due to the weak response to project Unnati, the Union Rural Development Ministry wants to link the performances of the States under the project with its MGNREGS budget for the upcoming financial year.
• Since 2020, just a little over 25,000 persons have been trained under the ‘Unnati’ project, falling short of its target of 2 lakh.

‘Unnati’ project

• The ‘Unnati’ project was launched to reduce the dependency on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), by providing skill training to existing workers.
• Under the project, one adult member of a household which has completed 100 days of work under the MGNREGS will be provided training through the Rural Skill Division of the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
• A family member in the 18-35 age group from the household will be eligible for training, In the case of special groups, persons of up to 45 years of age can apply.
• Under the project, the selected candidates are skilled through three established training programmes;
  • The Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY): It is a placement-linked programme, in which 70% of the trained candidates have to be compulsorily employed with a minimum salary of ₹6,000 per month.
  • The Rural Self Training Institute (RSETI): It is for entrepreneurial skills where persons in the age group of 18-45 get short-term residential training with long-term hand-holding support for up to two years.
  • The Krishi Vigyan Kendra trains candidates in trades related to the agricultural sectors.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005

●       The MGNREGA is Indian labour law and social security programme that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'.

●       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.

●       The Ministry of Rural Development is monitoring the implementation of this scheme.

●       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 is 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.

●       MGNREGA is implemented mainly by gram panchayats. Adult members of rural households submit their details to the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat registers households after making an enquiry and issues a job card. The job card contains the details of the adult member enrolled and his /her photo

●       The involvement of contractors is banned.

●       The Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which ensures accountability and transparency.

• Significance of MGNREGA
  • The programme is providing economic security and creates rural assets.
  • It also helps in protecting the environment, reducing rural-urban migration and promoting social equity, etc.
  • It focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women.
  • It provides “Green” and “Decent” work.
  • Works under MGNREGA help to address the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources.

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