In the 1960s, while the State was facing problems of poverty and unemployment, certain employment generation programmes like Rural Works Programme, Crash Scheme for Rural Employment Programme, Pilot Intensive Rural Employment Programme, Area Development Programme like D.P.A.P. and programmes designed for rendering assistance to small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers and rural artisans were implemented on a relatively limited scale and therefore could not make an effective dent on the problem of reducing unemployment in the rural areas. Later, programmes of soil and water conservation measure, major and medium irrigation projects and rural electrification programmes, etc were taken, but owing to resources constraints they, too, could not make a significant impact on the problem of reducing unemployment in the rural areas. Therefore, with a view to alleviating poverty by providing gainful employment to the poorer sections of the community in the rural area as well as in 'C' class municipal councils in the State of Maharashtra, a new scheme, which popularly came to be known as the Employment Guarantee Scheme was started. The State Government gave statutory support to the guarantee of employment through the enactment of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977, which was brought into force from 26 January 1979.