Forest STs to get additional 50 days wage employment under MGNREGA

The Union Ministry of Rural Development on 14 January 2014 decided to provide an additional wage employment of 50 days beyond the stipulated 100 days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA for Scheduled Tribe (ST) households in forest areas. This means that the ST households in forest areas will receive the wages of 150 days.

As per Jairam Ramesh, the Rural Development Minister those tribals who have received the land rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006 will be eligible for the additional benefit. The additional man-day payment through MGNREGA also allows the households to undertake work on their land.

Under the Forest Rights Act 2006, about 14 lakh individuals and community titles were distributed and of them about 8 lakh titles as individuals were given in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattishgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The Forest Rights Act has been included under the Indira Awaas Yojana for assistance.