NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT (NREGA)

Q.1: What is the objective of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)?

Ans: NREGA is an Act to provide a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to
every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. He/she will get the
minimum wage rate notified for agricultural labour in the State until the Central Government notifies a
minimum wage rate, which in any case shall not be less than Rs. 60 per day. NREGA came into effect on
February 2, 2006.

Q.2: Who can apply for employment under the Act?

Ans: All adult members of a rural household, resident in the area, willing to do unskilled manual work can
apply. Even if a person is already employed/engaged in work, he/she has the right to demand
employment under NREGA. Priority shall be given to women. Atleast one-third of the beneficiaries shall
be women who have registered and requested for work under the Scheme.

Q.3: What is the process of registration?

Ans: A household interested in availing of the NREGA benefits has to make an application for registration
through the prescribed written form or orally. The registration form and process are free of cost.

Q.4: Who should the application for registration be made to?

Ans: The application for registration has to be made to the Gram Panchayat.

Q.5: What is the role of the Gram Panchayat in the registration process?
Ans: In order to authenticate the registration, the Panchayat verifies whether the applicant resides in that
village and is an adult. The unit of registration is the household. After verification, the Gram Panchayat will
issue a Job Card to the household.

Q.6: What is a Job Card?

Ans: A Job Card is the basic legal document, which enables the registered household to demand
guaranteed employment. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application and is valid for five
years. The household Job Card will have the name and photograph of each registered member. The Job
Card and photograph are free for the applicant.
Q.7: Does a Job Card automatically entitle a person to receive employment?
Ans: No. In order to get employment the person will need to apply for work.

Q.8: How can one apply for work?

Ans: To get employment, the job seeker should submit a written application to the Gram Panchayat or
Programme Officer (at block office). Within a households' entitlement for 100 days individual members
can apply for work. The demand has to be for at least 14 days of continuous work.

Q.9: Does the applicant receive an acknowledgement of his work application?

Ans: Yes. The Gram Panchayat should issue a dated receipt for the application.

Q.10. How many days can a person get work for?

Ans: Under NREGA, a household is entitled to 100 days of work in a financial year. This entitlement of
100 days can be shared within the household; more than one person in the household can be employed
simultaneously or at different times.
Q.11: How will the applicant receive information on the given employment?
Ans: The Gram Panchayat/Programme Officer should send letters to the applicants informing them where
and when to report for work. A public notice displayed at the Gram Panchayat and at the Programme
Officer's block office, should provide information on the date, place of employment and the names of
those provided employment.

Q.12: What happens if employment is not given?

Ans: If the job seeker does not get employment within 15 days of submitting the application or from the
date when work is sought, whichever is later, a daily unemployment allowance has to be paid as per the
Act...(​ i think it is 1/3 of wages)

Q.13: What happens if the applicant does not report to work within 15 days?
Ans: If the applicant does not report to work within 15 days of being notified,he or she will not be entitled
to the unemployment allowance. The applicant can however, re-apply for work.

Q.14: Where will work be provided?

Ans: ​Work should be provided within 5 km of applicant's residence​. If employment is provided
beyond 5 km radius of the applicant's residence then he/she is entitled to​ 10% additional wages ​towards
transport and living expenses. Persons
older in age and women shall be given preference for work nearer to the village.

Q.15: What facilities are to be made available to workers at work sites?

Ans: Work site facilities include safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first-aid box for
emergency treatment of minor injuries and other health hazards connected with work. If more than five
children below six years are present a person should be engaged to look after them.

Q.16: What type of work will be given?

Ans: Creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor shall be
an important objective of the Scheme. Work through contractors is not permissible. The kinds of works
permissible according to priority are:
i. water conservation and water harvesting
ii. drought proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation)
iii. irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works
iv. provision of irrigation facility to land owned by households belonging to
the SCs and STs or to land beneficiaries of land reforms or that of the
beneficiaries under the Indira Awas Yojana
v. renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting of tanks
vi. land development
vii. flood control and protection works including drainage in water logged
areas
viii. rural connectivity to provide all-weather access
ix. any other work which may be notified by the Central Government in
consultation with the State Government​.

Q.17: What wage material ratio needs to be maintained in the selection of works?
Ans: In the selection of works a 60:40 wage-material ratio has to be maintained.
Q.18: What is the role of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat in the planning process?
Ans :The Gram Sabha should identify and recommend works. The Gram Panchayat should consolidate
and send the ecommendations of Gram Sabha to the Programme Officer.
Q.19: What wages will be paid?
Ans:The labourers are entitled to the statutory minimum wage for agriculture labourers in the State; until
the Central Government notifies a minimum wage rate, which in any case shall not be less than Rs. 100
per day.

Q.20: When will the wages be paid?

Ans:Wages should be paid every week, or in any case 'not later than a fortnight after the date on which
such work was done'.

Q.21: How will the wages be calculated?

Ans:The worker can be paid either as daily wage or as piece-rate. If wages are paid on a piece-rate basis,
the schedule of rates has to be such that a person working for seven hours would normally earn the
minimum wage.

Q.22: How are program functionaries accountable for what they do?
Ans: External and internal evaluators are continuously and concurrently evaluating the Programme. The
authority to conduct social audit is vested in Gram Sabha. A Village Level Monitoring committee is to be
set up by Gram Sabha to oversee each work. Moreover, any contravention of the Act shall, on conviction,
be liable to fine which may extend to one thousand rupees. A Grievance Redressal Mechanism should
also be set up at the block, district and state level.

Pradhan Manri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) :

1. What is the Pradhan Manri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and when was it launched?

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is centrally sponsored programme aimed at providing connectivity to
target habitations through construction of good all weather roads. This programme is a special central
intervention as part of a poverty reduction strategy. Though rural roads are a State subject, the Central
Government is providing 100% financial assistance for construction and upgradation of Rural Roads. The
Scheme has launched in December, 2000.

2. What is the primary objective of PMGSY?

The Primary objective of PMGSY is to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas by
good all-weather roads. Habitations with a population of 1000 and above shall be eligible in the first
phase, and those with a population of 500-1000 shall be eligible in the second phase. In respect of the Hill
States, the desert areas as identified in the Desert Development Programme in the Tribal Areas, the
objective is to connect habitations with a population of 250 and above.

3. What is Bharat Nirman?

The Government has undertaken a major plan for re-building rural India, which is called Bharat Nirman.
This is a time-bound business plan for building rural infrastructure in the areas of irrigation, roads,
housing, water supply,electrification and telecommunication connectivity. The targets set under rural
roads component of Bharat Nirman are being achieved through construction and up-gradation of rural
roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
4. Does the programme provide connectivity to only revenue villages?
The spirit and objective of PMGSY is to provide good all weather road connectivity to unconnected
habitations. The unit of this programme is habitation and not a revenue village or a Panchayat. A
habitation is a cluster of population, living in an area, the location of which does not change over time.

5. How are habitations selected for coverage? Who decides which habitations will be covered in a
year?
Unconnected habitations are listed as per the priority (generally, habitation with higher population would
be connected first) and depending upon the funds likely to be made available for the State, the list of road
works to be taken up under PMGSY will be finalized each year by the District Panchayat through a
consultative process involving lower level Panchayati Raj Institutions and elected representatives.

6.​ What does all-weather connectivity mean? Does it mean only blacktopped or cement concrete
roads?
An all-weather road is one which is negotiable in all seasons of the year. This implies that road-bed is
drained effectively but this does not necessarily imply that it should be paved surface with black-topping
or cement concrete. A gravel
road can also be an all-weather road.

7. What about bridges on rivers / streams?

Minor bridges on rivers / streams crossing the alignment of the road are taken up under the programme.
In case the span of CD work exceeds 25m, pro-rata cost beyond 25 m is required to be provided by the
State Government.

8. Whether compensation for land acquisition is paid in the programme?

Rural Roads is a State subject and it is responsibility of State Government/District Panchayat to ensure
availability of land for construction of road works under the programme. If land is acquired for the purpose
of construction of roads under PMGSY, the State Government is required to pay compensation.

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):

Q. No. 1. What is NSAP?

Ans. NSAP stands for National Social Assistance Programme. This came into effect from 15th August,
1995. NSAP at present comprises of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme(IGNOAPS),
National Family Benefit Scheme(NFBS) and Annapurna Scheme.

Q. No. 2. What is the eligibility for getting old age pension?

Ans. The eligibility criteria under​ Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme​ is:-
-Age of the applicant (male or female) should be 65 years or above.
-The applicant should be belonging to a household living below the
poverty line according to the criteria prescribed by the Govt. of India

Q. No. 3. How is IGNOAPS different from the earlier National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)?
Ans. Under NOAPS, old age pension were granted to a person who is 65 years old or higher and who is
destitute in the sense of having little or no means of regular income. Pension under IGNOAPS is now
granted to a person who is 65 years or above and belongs to a household below the poverty line instead
of only to destitutes.

Q.No.4. When did the IGNOAPS come into effect?

Ans. The National Old Age Pension Scheme has also been renamed as Indira Gandhi National Old Age
Pension Scheme (IGNOPS) and formally launched on 19th November, 2007.

Q. No. 5. What is the pension amount under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme?
Ans. The central contribution of pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS) is Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary and the State Governments may contribute over and
above to this amount. At present old age beneficiaries are getting anywhere between Rs. 200/- to Rs.
1000/- depending on the State Contribution.

Q. No. 6 What are the pension schemes of the State Government?

Ans. Several States are having their own widow, disabled and old age pension schemes with varying
eligibility criteria. These schemes are funded from their own resources.

Q. No.7. Who do I contact for getting pension under the scheme?

Ans. The social security schemes are generally implemented by the Social Welfare Departments in the
States. However, in some States, Rural Development Department or Women Child Development
Department are administering these schemes. The concerned department in the State may be
approached for getting pension.

Q. No. 8. How will the pension be disbursed to me?

Ans. As per the Govt. of India decision, pension has to be credit in bank account/ post office account of
the beneficiary wherever feasible. States are at present disbursing pension either through bank account/
post office saving account or in cash in Gram Sabha or through Money Order.

Q. No. 9. Whether pension is restricted to only one person in a family?

Ans. No. All the persons who are 65 years of age in a BPL family are eligible to get old age pension.

Q. No. 10. What is the National Family Benefit Scheme?

Ans. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) is a component of National Social Assistance Programme
(NSAP). Under National Family Benefit Scheme, Central Assistance is given in the form of lumpsum
family benefit for households below
the poverty line on the death of the primary breadwinner in the bereaved family.

Q. No. 11. What is the eligibility under NFBS ?

Ans. The assistance is available on the following conditions:- - The primary breadwinner shall be a
member whose earnings
contribute substantially to the household income. - The death of such primary breadwinner occurs while
he or she is more
than 18 years and less than 65 years of age. - The bereaved family qualifies as one below the poverty
line according
to the criteria prescribed by the Govt. of India

Q. No. 12. What is the amount given under NFBS?

Ans.. The amount of benefit is Rs.10000/- in case of death of primary breadwinner due to natural or
accidental causes. The family benefit is paid to such surviving member of the household of the deceased
who, after local enquiry is determined to be the head of the household.
Q.No.13. What is Annapurna Scheme?
Ans. Annapurna Scheme was introduced w.e.f.1.4.2000. This scheme aimed at providing food security to
meet the requirement of those senior citizens who,though eligible, have remained uncovered under the
NOAPS. Under the Annapurna Scheme 10 kgs of food grains per month are provided free of cost to the
beneficiary.

Q.No.14. How could a person become eligible for pension under IGNOAPS, if his name could not
found in the BPL List 2002?
Ans. Such a person is not eligible for pension. However, he may appeal to appropriate authority for
inclusion of his name in the BPL List 2002 after that he may apply for pension.

The Nodal Secretary dealing with NSAP in the State or the concerned District/block level Welfare Officer
can be approached for redressal of any complaint regarding the schemes under NSAP.

Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY):

Q.1 What is the aim of the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)?

Aim of Indira Awaas Yojana is to provide financial assistance to the rural poor living Below the Poverty
Line (BPL) for construction of a hous​e.
Q.2 Who are eligible to get assistance under IAY?
BPL rural households of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, non- Scheduled Castes & non-Scheduled
Tribes​, Ex-servicemen of the armed & paramilitary forces killed in action, ​physically & mentally challenged
persons, freed bonded labourers & Minorities​ are eligible to get assistance under Indira Aawas Yojana.

Q.3 Who will provide assistance?

Funding of IAY is shared between the Centre & State in the ratio of 75:​25.in​ case of UTs, entire fund of
IAY is provided by the Centre to District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) which release funds to
beneficiaries through Gram Panchayat.

Q.4 How much of financial assistance is given?

The financial assistance provided for new construction under IAY is Rs.35,000/- per unit for the plain
areas & Rs.38,500/- for the
hilly/difficult areas. The assistance for upgradation of unserviceable kutcha house to pucca/semi pucca
house is Rs.15,000/- for all areas. The assistance for credit-cum-subsidy scheme is also Rs.12,500/- per
unit.
Maximum of 20% of IAY allocation can be utilized for upgradation or/& credit-cum-subsidy scheme.
Further, provision has been made to extend lower interest rates for construction of IAY houses in rural
areas.

Q.What is the selection procedure?

Selection of beneficiaries is based on the permanent IAY waitlists wherever these have been prepared or
from the BPL list 2002 with the poorest being selected on priority.
Q.7 What are the provisions for weaker sections, minorities & persons with disabilities under the
IAY?

The benefits of the Scheme have since been extended to the families of Exservicemen of the armed
forces & paramilitary forces killed in action. Besides 3% of the houses are reserved for the physically &
mentally challenged persons of the rural BPL families. Funds are also been earmarked for coverage of
minorities.

Q.Will we get any information about construction technology or procurement of raw material?

Under the Guideline Zilla Parishad/DRDAs are required to disseminate information in respect of
environment friendly/innovative/disasterresistant technologies.

Q. Is the sanitation and Smokless Chulha are integrated into the Rural Housing?

Sanitation in IAY has been integrated with Total Sanitation Programme of this Ministry. Dwelling unit is
provided with a smokeless chulha, which is a fuel-efficient alternative, smoke free, healthy, for
environmentally clean & more convenient to use.

Q.How do women get benefited under IAY?

Allotment of dwelling units may be in the name of the female member of the beneficiary household.
Alternatively, it can be allotted in the name of both husband & wife.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission :

Q. ​Cities under JNNURM?

Total number of cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission shall be maintained
around 65 cities.

Q.What support to the Urban Local Bodies shall be available for implementation of reforms related
to MIS, GIS, and Accounting Reforms?

Financial support shall be available under National Mission Mode Project on e-Governance in
Municipalities and Capacity Building under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

What is the relationship between master plan and CDP?

Master Plan is a spatial document. CDP is a far more comprehensive vision document and would
subsume the master plan. CDP should indicate the direction in which the city would like to move on.

Will the Ministry of Urban Development consider proposals from Cities where elected
Governments are not in place in due to reasons beyond the control of Government?
The State Governments can submit proposals from Cities along with commitment to hold elections within
stipulated period.

Is there any cap on size of projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission?
No. There is no cap on size of projects.
What is the extent of funds available for each city under the UIDSSMT?
Funds under UIDSSMT shall be allocated on the basis of urban population of the State to the total urban
population in the country.

What is meant by renewal of old/inner city areas?

Renewal of old city areas means decongestion by shifting of possible activities outside these areas and
improvement /augmentation of old and outdated infrastructure.

Whether city forests could be taken up?

City Forests are not covered in thrust areas of the Mission. However, such activities can be taken up in
special category states where soil erosion and land slides are common.

Integrated Child Development Services:

Q.1 What is ICDS ?

Ans. Integrated Child Development Services popularly known as ICDS, is one of the la​rgest programmes
of Government of India. It takes care of all round developmental needs of children who are below six
years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers, in
the age group of 15-45 years​,​ through the Anganwadi Centres.

Q.2 What are the services being provided under ICDS?

Ans. A package of ​six services​ is provided under the ICDS. ​These are : supplementary nutrition,
immunization, health check-up, referral services, non-formal pre-school education, and nutrition and
health education.

Q.3 What is an Anganwadi ?

Ans. An Anganwadi means a courtyard, that is, a play centre. It is located within a village or a slum. It is
the focal point for delivery of all services provided under ICDS.

Q. Who provides these services in an Anganwadi Centre ?

Ans. An Anganwadi Worker provides all these services in the Anganwadi Centre. She is an honorary
worker selected from the village. She is assisted by a Helper in carrying out her day-to-day activities. The
Helper also is selected by the villagers.

Q.8 What will child get at an Anganwadi Centre ?

A​ns. If child is below three years of age, s/he will get supplementary nutrition and proper infant and
young child feeding advice. The growth of a child is also regularly monitored at the Anganwadi Centre. In
addition, the Anganwadi Centre will take the
responsibility of checking-up her/his health and also ensure that the​ child is immunized against six killer
diseases like Tuberculosis (TB) Diptheria, Perthussis (whooping cough), Tetanus, Measles and
Poliomyelitis by the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM)​.In case, your child is between 3-6 years, apart from
the above services, s/he will be imparted preschool education also.

Q.9 What preschool education implies under ICDS?

Ans. Preschool education implies holistic development of children that ensures their overall physical,
cognitive, language, social and emotional development. It also provides stimulating play environment
whereby they learn about their surroundings and day-to-day interaction with others.
Q.I​s there any growth monitoring also at Anganwadis ?
Ans. Yes, Anganwadi workers keeps a regular check on the growth of the child by taking her/his weight
on regular basis and plotting the same on the growth chart which is maintained separately for each child
as per their age. Accordingly, their mothers are counseled so that their children develop in a healthy and
robust manner.

Q. ​What services a pregnant woman receives under ICDS ?

Ans. ​A pregnant woman avails services like health check-up, immunization against Tetanus Toxoid (TT),
nutrition and health education and supplementary nutrition.
Q. What benefits a nursing woman receives under ICDS ?
Ans. A nursing woman can avail services like health check-up, nutrition and health education and
supplementary nutrition.

Q. What are the services available for adolescent girls ?​( SABLA SCHEEM)
Ans. ​The Adolescent girls receives services like nutrition & health education, iron and folic acid
supplementation, de-worming tablets, non-formal education, home based skill training and vocational
training as well as supplementary nutrition.

Q. What about women who are between the age of 15 to 45 years ?

Ans. All these women are entitled to nutrition and health education only so that they can motivate others
to lead a better quality of life.
Q.Does the Anganwadi Centre also provide medicine to sick children ?
Ans. Yes, the Anganwadi Worker provides a few medicines for treatment of minor ailments like fever,
diarrohea, de-worming, etc.,

Q. Are services provided under the ICDS only meant for women and children ?
The ICDS scheme also facilitates men folk in understanding the developmental needs of their children
and the day to day requirements of women folk during pregnancy,child birth and rearing of children.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV):

● The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme was launched in 2004 for setting up residential
schools at upper primary level for girls belonging to SC, ST, OBC & Minority communities (75%
reservation) and 25% girls from BPL.
● ​where the female rural literacy is below.

National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL):

● Under NPEGEL, an integral but distinct part of SSA(Sarva siksha Abhiyan),

● Additional provisions for enhancing the education of under privileged/disadvantaged girls at
elementary level through more intensive community mobilisation, the development of model
schools in clusters, gender sensitisation of teachers, development of gender sensitive learning
materials, early child care and educational facilities and provision of need-based incentives like
escorts, stationery, work books & uniforms etc.