Modi government changed the name of MNREGA: now ‘Pujya Babu’ instead of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, benefits also increased

New Delhi, 12 December. Modi government on Friday changed the name of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act – MNREGA. Now this scheme will be known as Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Scheme. According to sources, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved the bill to increase the number of working days along with changing the name. The government has also increased the benefits available under this scheme.

Now there will be a guarantee of 125 days of employment in a year instead of 100 days.

According to media reports, along with the change of name, the number of working days under it has been increased from the current 100 days to 125 days. This means that now there will be a guarantee of employment for 125 days in a year instead of 100 days.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, popularly known as MGNREGA or MNREGA, is a flagship scheme of the government. Its objective is to increase the livelihood security of families in rural areas. Under this, every family in rural areas is given guaranteed employment for at least 100 days in a financial year. Now it has been reduced to 125 days.

This scheme has been one of the major schemes of the UPA-1 government. It was started in the year 2005. At present more than 15 crore people are working under this scheme. About one-third of the beneficiaries are women. The initial name of this scheme started in the Manmohan Singh government was National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, in 2009 the name of this scheme was changed to the name of Mahatma Gandhi.