The Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), also known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was launched in 2006. It is a social security measure that guarantees the right to work and ensures livelihood security in rural areas of India.


The primary objective of the Employment Guarantee Scheme is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.


The Employment Guarantee Scheme has several key features that make it unique and effective in providing employment opportunities to rural households. These features include:

1. Legal Guarantee: The scheme provides a legal guarantee to rural households for wage employment.

2. Demand-Driven Approach: The scheme is demand-driven, which means that employment is provided based on the demand for work from the rural households.

3. Unskilled Manual Work: The scheme focuses on providing employment for unskilled manual work such as construction of rural infrastructure, water conservation, and land development.

4. Minimum Wages: The scheme ensures that the wages paid to the workers are not less than the minimum wage fixed by the state government.

5. Job Card: Every rural household that seeks employment under the scheme is issued a job card, which serves as proof of registration and entitlement to work.

6. Payment of Wages: The wages are paid directly to the workers' bank accounts to ensure transparency and prevent corruption.


The Employment Guarantee Scheme has had a significant impact on the rural economy and the lives of the rural population. Some of the key impacts include:

1. Poverty Alleviation: The scheme has helped in reducing poverty in rural areas by providing employment and income to the rural households.

2. Infrastructure Development: The scheme has contributed to the development of rural infrastructure such as roads, irrigation facilities, and water conservation structures.

3. Empowerment of Women: The scheme has played a crucial role in empowering women by providing them with opportunities for wage employment and financial independence.

4. Migration Control: The scheme has helped in controlling distress migration from rural to urban areas by providing employment opportunities locally.

5. Social Inclusion: The scheme has promoted social inclusion by providing equal opportunities for employment to marginalized sections of society, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.

In conclusion, the Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched in 2006 with the objective of providing livelihood security and employment opportunities to rural households in India. The scheme has been successful in addressing poverty, promoting infrastructure development, empowering women, controlling migration, and fostering social inclusion.