The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005 now known as Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was launched on 2nd February 2006. It envisages securing the livelihood of people in rural areas.

(A) Guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per financial year to every rural household.
(B) Employment to be given within 15 days of the application for work.
(C) Employment within a 5 km radius, else extra wages to be paid.
(D) At least 50% of beneficiaries have to be women.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A), (B) and (C) only

The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (C) only

Let's evaluate each provision of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):

• (A) Guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment: This is the core feature of the act. It provides a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of unskilled manual work to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for it. (True)
• (B) Employment to be given within 15 days: The act stipulates that if a person is not provided employment within 15 days of applying, they are entitled to an unemployment allowance. (True)
• (C) Employment within a 5 km radius: Work should be provided within a 5 km radius of the village. If it is provided beyond 5 km, the workers are entitled to an additional 10% of the wage rate as extra travel expenses. (True)
• (D) At least 50% of beneficiaries have to be women: According to the act, priority is given to women, but the mandate is that at least one-third (approx. 33%) of the beneficiaries shall be women, not 50%. (False)