FAQs on Job cards

What is a Job Card?

Job Card is a key document that records workers’ entitlements under MGNREGA. It legally empowers the registered households to apply for work, ensures transparency and protects workers against fraud.

What is the procedure to register oneself for employment?

Household having adult members desirous of seeking unskilled wage employment in MGNREGA may apply for registration. The application for registration may be given on prescribed form or plain paper to the local Gram Panchayat. To allow maximum opportunities to families that may migrate, registration shall also be opened throughout the year at the GP office.

How is Household defined in MGNREGA?

“Household” means the members of a family related to each other by blood, marriage or adoption and normally residing together and sharing meals or holding a common ration card.

What is the significance of door to door survey in identification of eligible household under MGNREGA?

Door to door survey helps to identify eligible households who have been missed out and wish to be registered under the Act. It should be undertaken by each GP every year and need to be ensured that this survey is held at that time of the year when people have not migrated to other areas in search of employment or for other reasons.

Who can apply for Job Card Registration?

A household having adult members desirous of seeking unskilled employment in MGNREGA may apply for registration.

What is the frequency of Job Card registration?

Throughout the Year

Who should apply for Job Card on behalf of a Household?

Any adult member can apply on behalf of Household.

What is the definition of an adult in a household?

Adult means a person who has completed 18 years of age.

Can all adult members of a household register for Job Card?

Adult members of a household willing to do unskilled manual work can register themselves to obtain a job card under MGNREGA.

Is there any pre-printed form for providing details while registering for Job Card?

The State Government may make a printed form available as per format prescribed in the MGNREGA Operational Guidelines 2013. However, a printed form should not be insisted upon.

What are the issues the Gram Panchayat need to verify when application was made for Job Card?

The Gram Panchayat need to verify:

• Whether the household is really an entity as stated in the application
• Applicant households are local residents in the GP concerned
• Applicants are adult members of the household

The process of verification shall be completed not later than a fortnight after the receipt of the application.

For how many years is the registration for Job Card valid?

The registration is valid for five years and may be renewed/re-validated following process prescribed for renewal/revalidation as and when required.

If the information contained in the application found to be incorrect, what is the process to be adopted?

The Gram Panchayat will refer the application to PO. The PO, after independent verification of facts and giving the person concerned an opportunity to be heard, may direct the GP to either

• register the household or
• reject the application or
• secure the particulars correct and re-process the application.

What is the time limit for issuing Job Cards (JC) if the application made is correct?

Within a fortnight after due verification is completed on finding out eligibility of a household, the job cards should be issued to all such eligible households.

Can the Job Card be handed over to any member of the household?

Yes, it can be handed over to any adult member of the applicant's household in the presence of a few other residents of the GP.

Should the cost towards Job Card (including the photograph affixed on it) be borne by the applicant?

No, the cost of the Job Cards, including that of the photographs affixed on it, are covered under the administrative expenses and borne as a part of the programme cost.

If a person has grievance against the non-issuance of a Job Card, then to whom s/he has to represent the matter?

The matter can be brought to the notice of PO. If the grievance is against the PO, then the matter can be brought to the notice of DPC or the designated grievance-redressal authority at the block or district level.

Is there any time-limit to address the grievances in regard to non-issuance of Job Card?

Yes, all such complaints shall be disposed off within 15 days.

Is there any provision to provide duplicate Job Card for a lost one?

Yes, a Job Cardholder may apply for a duplicate Job Card, if the original is lost or damaged. The application will be given to the GP and shall be processed in the manner of a new application, with the difference being that the particulars may also be verified using the duplicate copy of the JC maintained by the Panchayat.

Who is the custodian of Job Card?

It must be ensured that the JC is always in the custody of the household to whom it is issued. If for any reason i.e., updation of record, it is taken by implementing agencies it should be returned on the same day after the updates. JCs found in the possession of any Panchayat or MGNREGA functionary, without a valid reason, will be considered as an offence punishable under Section 25 of the Act.

Can any adult member of household seek wage employment?

Every adult member of a registered household whose name appears in the JC shall be entitled to apply for unskilled manual work.

Is there any duration limit fixed for seeking work by adult individuals registered in the JC?

Yes, as per Para 11, Schedule II normally, applications for work must be for at least fourteen days of continuous work, other than the works relating to access to sanitation facilities, for which application for work shall be for atleast six days of continuous work. As per Para 10, Schedule II there shall be no limit on the number of days of employment for which a person may apply, or on the number of days of employment actually provided subject to the aggregate entitlement of the household.

Can a job card be cancelled?

No, as per Para 4, Schedule II no job card can be cancelled except where it is found to be a duplicate, or if the entire household has permanently migrated to a place outside the Gram Panchayat and no longer lives in the village.

When is an applicant eligible for Unemployment allowance?

If an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen days of receipt of his/her application seeking employment, in all cases of advance application, employment should be provided from the date that employment has been sought, or within 15 days of the date of application, whichever is later. Else, unemployment allowance becomes due. It will be calculated automatically by the computer system or the Management Information System (MIS).

Who is responsible for the payment of Unemployment allowance?

As per Section 7(3) of MGNREGA, State Government is liable to pay unemployment allowance to the household concerned. State Government shall:

• Specify the rate of unemployment allowance payable [Section 7 (2) of Act]
• Frame Rules governing the procedure for payment of unemployment allowance and
• Make necessary budgetary provision for payment of unemployment allowance.

When does the liability of State Government cease in regard to payment of unemployment allowance?

The liability of the State Government to pay unemployment allowance to a household during any financial year shall cease as soon as:

• The applicant is directed by the GP or the PO to report for work either by himself or depute at least one adult member of his household; or
• The period for which employment is sought comes to an end and no member of the household of the applicant had turned up for employment; or
• The adult members of the household of the applicant have received in total at least one hundred days of work within the financial year; or
• The household of the applicant has earned as much from the wages and unemployment allowance taken together which is equal to the wages for one hundred days of work during the financial year.
• An applicant who:-
  • Does not accept the employment provided to his/her household; or
  • Does not report for work within fifteen days of being notified by the Programme Officer or the implementing agency to report for the work; or
  • Continuously remains absent from work, without obtaining permission from the concerned implementing agency for a period of more than one week or remains absent for a total period of more than one week in any month.

Source : FAQs of MGNREGA Operational Guidelines - 2013