The UPA government, led by the Indian National Congress, came up with welfare legislation, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA) in the year 2005.
I was almost 10-12 years when it was being implemented at ground level. Fortunately, my grandfather was Village HeadMan, which is usually known as Gram Pradhan. That’s why I observed the progress of this policy from the ground level.NREGA ensures 100 days minimum work to villagers. It prescribed more than 60 rupees wages to villagers. In my village, I witnessed that daily wage labourers were being paid a nominal wage of fewer than 60 rupees. The upper class had total control over the fixation of wages for labourers. They deliberately never raised it. If this legislation was not in force, then probably their daily wage had not have increased till today.
As far as I remember, 100 rupees were a fixed wage for one day at the beginning of the legislation. Probably, no one would believe what I am going to tell you, reader.
The labourers’ eyes were glittering when they were being paid 500 rupees note for the work. I think most of them saw 500 notes for the first time in their life. They started asking for 100 rupees wage for a day’s work, even from local upper-class people. The Upper class of people who held large agricultural land were very unhappy with this policy of a 100 rupees wage. NREGA United the labourers. It gave them bargaining power. They got the voice to refuse if one gave them less than 100 rupees for a day.
The NREGA, 2005 was also crucial in the empowerment of women. They were being employed by my grandfather. Several job cards were issued to them. They became self-reliant. They were equal participants in the growth of their families.
Unfortunately, The Modi regime has not given the kind of attention to the NREGA and MNREGA it deserves.
The NREGA has transformed the labour market of India. This is a “living monument” of the success of Congress-led UPA.