Job scheme under attack

Farmers asked authorities concerned to allow farm workers to get enrolled under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

There was an acute scarcity of farm labour in the district, and this had hit the farm activities in a big way, they said.

C. Vaiyapuri, president, United Farmers Association — Tamil Nadu, said that no concrete work was being implemented under the MGNREGS in the district. The involvement of farm workers in the MGNREGS works has led to scarcity labour.

K. Sundaram, general secretary of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said that even senior government officials had said that this concept had not served any real purpose. The implementation of this programme has caused much hardship to farmers.

On many occasion, the workers under this programme were seen idling away their time.

Mr. Sundaram made a forceful plea not to implement the MGNREGS works during the agriculture season.