A study report on appraisal of NREGA programme in Thane and Akola districts of Maharashtra
Maharashtra state is one of the progressive states in the country. The state initiated Maharashtra Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MREGA) way back in 1972. By taking into consideration the guidelines related to the right to work under section 41 of the Indian Constitution; the scheme was given the constitutional validity from 26th January, 1979 in the form of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977. The prime objective of this scheme is to bring the stability among rural population through available resources and by providing employment to unskilled labours for proper development of the rural villages. Keeping in view the same objective, Central government has started National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) - 2005 for giving 100 days employment to each family of the rural villages. For implementing NREGA scheme, Maharashtra State Government decided to merge earlier Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) and NREGA scheme and freshly implemented as MREGS. For giving better livelihood benefits to the rural workers, this broad and extensive scheme has been implemented by the Central and State Government.