A group of villagers, mostly women, from Eliyarpathi on the Aruppukottai highway petitioned Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao on Monday alleging denial of jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Pointing out that there were about 200 families in their village, who were holding below poverty line (BPL) cards and thus eligible for getting a job under the scheme, the women said none of the villager from BPL families were given a job in the past four months. With the prevailing drought conditions and consequent lack of demand for agriculture labour, it was becoming difficult for them to eke out a living.
“Even if there were occasional delays, the job scheme ensured that we received a minimum income. Now that is also gone,” said B. Rameshwari, one of the petitioners. The women alleged that since April, whenever they approached the panchayat clerk demanding job, they were told that it could not be provided due to non-allocation of funds. “Last month, the clerk told us that funds had been allocated only for five persons and we could rotate the job among ourselves every week. If we take the job in turns, when will all the 200 families get a job,” Ms. Rameshwari said.
Another villager alleged that the jobs were being provided at least for a minimum number of days in nearby Nedu Madurai and Valayankulam.
After meeting the Collector, the petitioners said that he had assured to look into the issue and arrange for jobs at the earliest.
