Three main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) are:
(i) The NREGAs 2005 was passed in September 2005.
(ii) It aims 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.
(iii) It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women.
(iv)The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee funds.
(v) Apart from providing economic security and creating rural assets, NREGA can help in protecting the environment, empowering rural women, reducing rural-urban migration and fostering social equity, among others.
(vi) Later, the scheme will be extended to 600 districts. One third of the proposed Jobs would be reserved for women.
(vii) If an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days, she/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.