The article “Another excuse to cut government spending” (Nov.11) by Ms Brinda Karat, on how the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is under pressure from several quarters, was comprehensive.
It is a matter of concern that in many States, the average wage earned is far less than the official rate. This is likely to continue as long as landlords and the affluent consider cheap labour to be their prerogative. Fixing unscrupulous rigid schedules for workers, and a task-based fixation of wages followed by low and delayed wages have undoubtedly contributed to a slowing down of the scheme.
Vathsala Jayaraman,
Chennai
As rightly analysed by Ms Karat, the motivation behind the various arguments against the rural employment scheme is undoubtedly aimed at cutting down social expenditure. This has to be viewed along with the government's claim that Rs.32 a day is a very reasonable income to be Above the Poverty Line, and the Prime Minister's claim that a rise in food prices is a sign of prosperity.It is this insensitive attitude towards the poor which encourages those in power to argue against the scheme to help the rural rich, by raising the bogie of a shortage of rural labour, instead of encouraging the rise in competitive rural wages. Ironically, the focus of the media is on elitist subjects like F1 races. Should not the issue of removing rural poverty engage the attention of civil society?
Kasim Sait,
Chennai
