NREGA: a powerful weapon (Editorial)
Over the two years since it became operational, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of 2005 has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across the poorest districts in the country. The Act, which guarantees 100 days of employment per household at minimum wage, is the first piece of legislation that compels the state to provide a social safety net for impoverished rural households. Till March 31, 2008, the Scheme had covered 330 districts across different States. From April 1, 2008, it has covered the entire country.