What is MGNREGA?
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also known as NREGA, is a law that guarantees every rural household in India at least 100 days of paid work per financial year. The work must be provided within 5 km of your home.
This is not a scheme you apply for — it is a legal right. If the government cannot give you work within 15 days of your application, you are entitled to an unemployment allowance paid from state funds.
Work done under MGNREGA includes: building roads, ponds, wells, canals, planting trees, land levelling, and other rural development work.
Who is Eligible?
- Any adult (18+ years) member of a rural household
- Must be willing to do unskilled manual work
- Must be a resident of the Gram Panchayat area where they register
✅ There is no income limit for MGNREGA. Any rural adult — rich or poor — can demand work. However, in practice it is most used by BPL and economically weaker families.
Step 1 — Get Your Job Card
To work under MGNREGA, you need a Job Card. This is a free government-issued card with your photo and details. It is proof of your registration.
- Go to your Gram Panchayat office
Ask for MGNREGA Job Card registration. It is completely free. - Fill the application form
Provide name, address, Aadhaar number, bank account details, and photo. - Get your Job Card within 15 days
The Gram Panchayat must issue it within 15 days. If they delay, complain to the Block Development Officer (BDO).
Step 2 — Demand Work
- Submit a written work demand to the Gram Panchayat
Write a simple application: "I, [name], Job Card No. [Job Card Number], request work under MGNREGA for [number] days starting from [date]." Get a dated receipt. - Work must be provided within 15 days
The Gram Panchayat is legally required to give you work within 15 days of your demand, within 5 km of your village. - If work is more than 5 km away
You are entitled to 10% extra wages as travel allowance.
⚠️ If work is not given within 15 days: You are entitled to an Unemployment Allowance — ¼ of your wage for the first 30 days, and ½ of your wage after that. Demand it in writing from your Gram Panchayat.
Wages — How Much and When?
MGNREGA wages are set by each state government and updated annually. Some current rates (approximate):
- Haryana: ₹386/day (highest)
- Kerala: ₹357/day
- Karnataka: ₹349/day
- Uttar Pradesh: ₹247/day
- Bihar: ₹247/day
- Madhya Pradesh: ₹253/day
- Rajasthan: ₹271/day
✅ Wages must be paid directly to your bank account or post office account within 15 days of work completion. If payment is delayed beyond 15 days, you are entitled to compensation at 0.05% of the wages per day of delay.
Check Your Work & Payment Online
- Go to nrega.nic.in
This is the official MGNREGA transparency portal with all records. - Select your State → District → Block → Gram Panchayat
- Click "Job Card" → Search by name or Job Card number
You can see all work demanded, work allocated, days worked, and payments made.
✅ All MGNREGA records are public. You can check the muster rolls, payment records, and work completion status for your entire Gram Panchayat — not just your own record.
How to File a Complaint
If work is denied, wages are delayed, or there is corruption (fake muster rolls, ghost workers):
- Call 1800-345-22-44 — Free MGNREGA helpline
- File complaint at nrega.nic.in → Grievance section
- Write to your Block Development Officer (BDO) — They must reply in 30 days
- File an RTI — Ask for muster rolls, payment records, and work orders for your Gram Panchayat
- Approach the District Programme Coordinator (DPC) — Usually the District Collector
Official Source
All information on this page is sourced from the official MGNREGA portal of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
This page is for informational purposes only. MeraHaq is not affiliated with the Government of India or any ministry.