A) Major features:
(i) MNREGA MNREGA lays down that any adult member willing to do unskilled manual work and who is looking for work must be given work by the government. A rural household can demand at least one hundred days of employment in a year for which they would be paid not below the minimum wages. The following are some sample activities taken up under MNREGA.
- water conservation and water harvesting
- drought-proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation)
- provisions of irrigation facility to land owned by households belonging to the SCs and STs r
- enovation of traditional water bodies including desilting of tanks.
(ii) The system of ration shops distributing foodgrains and other essential items is known as the Public Distribution System (or PDS in short). PDS has existed in India right from the time of independence and has played a crucial role in reaching food to everyone both in the rural and urban areas. There were of course problems of functioning. At places, the ration shops would not open regularly or on time. The foodgrain stocks would be adulterated with the intention that no one buys. Ration shop owners would be found selling foodgrains to other shops rather than to the public. Many people including the poor would not receive ration. Performance of ration shops was not so good as expected in the poorest states and the poorest regions of India.
B) Alongside employment, the government ensured that everyone has access to affordable food. They tried to address these aspects of poverty.
C) Employment and income cannot do much, if the prices of essential items are very high. So the government supplies the basic needs at fair price. So the ration shops are needed.
