India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but this high growth in recent years has widened the gap between the rich and poor members of the population. The rural population, dependent mainly on agriculture and related activities, is trapped in poverty and deprivation. As agricultural work is seasonal, rural labourers, especially those who are unskilled, find themselves frequently unemployed or underemployed. Rural development is key to stimulating inclusive and sustainable growth in India, and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) aims to address this issue. The national government provides at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work under the MGNREGA programme.
URL : http://www.ihdindia.org/PDFs/MPIA-12823-India-Policy-Brief.pdf