Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet has taken the historic decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) to the ‘Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Guarantee Yojana‘ (PBNREGA). With this, the 100-day guarantee of employment has been increased to 125 days. This means that needy people in rural areas will now receive 125 days of work instead of the current 100. This major change will be implemented after it is introduced in Parliament, but the application process will remain simple.

Who can apply for the scheme

Specific criteria have been set for the Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Guarantee Scheme, and any man or woman who meets these criteria can apply for employment. This scheme is for those who are unemployed and want to earn their livelihood through physical labour. All adult members of any poor family in a village can apply.

The eligibility criteria are: Applicants must be Indian citizens. Only those living in rural areas can benefit from the scheme. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. To avail of this scheme, they must have a job card, which can be obtained by registering with the Gram Panchayat.

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Documents Required for the PBNREGA Scheme

You must have the following documents at the time of application: Aadhaar card, ration card, job card (if existing), residence certificate, caste certificate, bank account passbook, and passport-size photo.

Complete Offline Application Process

First, you must apply to your Gram Panchayat. Applicants must provide the names, ages, and addresses of all adult family members. Less literate individuals can also apply verbally, which will be submitted to the Gram Panchayat on a form or plain paper. The Gram Panchayat reviews your application and confirms eligibility. If the application is found to be correct, the Gram Panchayat issues you a job card within 15 days. The job card also contains photographs and information about all adult family members.

Complete Online Application Process

Online Application: First, you need to visit the official MNREGA website, nrega.nic.in. (The website may also change after the scheme’s name change.) On the website’s homepage, click on the ‘Job Card Registration’ or ‘Apply for Job Card’ option. Select the state, district, block, and Gram Panchayat for new registration. Fill in the required details and apply. Upload the required documents. After completing all the information, click Submit. Upon successful application completion, you will receive a registration number.

Your application will now be reviewed by the Gram Panchayat, and a job card will be issued within 15 days of approval.

How to Check and Download Job Card Status

To check the status, you need to visit the official website. Click on the ‘Track Job Card Status’ option. A new page will open where you will need to enter your reference number. Clicking the Track button below will display the status of your job card.

To download the job card, you’ll need to return to the official website. Click on the “Download Job Card” option. Select the “Download Using” option and enter your reference number or job card number. After entering the number, click the download button. Your job card will be downloaded, which you can print or save on your phone.

Major Benefits for Rural People

Under the Pujya Bapu Employment Guarantee Scheme, members of poor rural families will be guaranteed 125 days of employment per year. Employment will be provided within approximately 15 days of application. Under this scheme, works such as road construction, water conservation, pond digging, and tree plantation will be undertaken.

The fixed wages will be deposited directly into the applicant’s bank or post office account. Workers are paid a fixed minimum wage. Workers living more than 5 kilometers from the work site are also given travel and food allowances. Another important feature is that women are treated equally with men under this scheme and are paid the same wages.

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