Delay in payment of wages to workers has hit the works undertaken under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the State.
The undue delay in payment has cast a shadow on thousands of families, especially tribal people, who are dependent on the MGNREGS to meet their daily needs. It will adversely affect the construction works, including road and check dams, being under way in various grama panchayats.
Moreover, many grama panchayats have launched pesticide-free vegetable cultivation projects by utilising the services of MGNREGS workers and the delay in payment will negatively affect such projects.
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has disbursed Rs.1,100.70 crore to the State, including wages to workers and material cost till November 17 during the current fiscal. But the Ministry has not paid the remaining Rs.285.69 crore till Tuesday.
But, the MGNREGS sources said the Ministry has launched a pilot project in the State and this caused for the undue delay in payment to the workers.
The project envisages introduction of an Electronic Fund Management system by which the fund for the project will be directly transferred from Delhi to the concerned bank account of MGNREGS workers.
Earlier, the fund was transferred to State and later the amount was deposited to the concerned accounts of the workers.
‘‘The Ministry has allotted Rs.350 crore to the State for the purpose and wages will be transferred to the workers' accounts from January 1,’’ C.V. Joy, district coordinator, said. A trial run had been made for the purpose on Tuesday and it was successful, he said.
Published - December 30, 2015 12:00 am IST
