Govt weighs extension of MGNREGA to cover workers in cities: Report

The plan being considered involves an initial rollout of the scheme in smaller cities and towns that is expected to cost around Rs 35,000 crore

Moneycontrol News

September 02, 2020 / 16:32 IST

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is the world's largest jobs guarantee programme

The government is weighing an extension of the rural employment guarantee scheme to cover workers in cities and urban areas who have been rendered jobless amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a Bloomberg report, the plan being considered involves an initial rollout of the scheme, which is expected to cost around Rs 35,000 crore, in smaller cities and towns.

In the country's rural areas, people are able to secure work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the world's largest jobs guarantee programme.

It is basically a social security scheme that guarantees 100 days of wage employment to all rural households in the country.

In the Budget 2020-21, the allocation for MGNREGA stood at Rs 61,500 crore, and the Centre has released Rs 56,683 crore under the scheme so far in the year.

COVID-19 Vaccine

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