Nuapada: This tribal-dominated district is better known for high migration of labourers. To check their exodus, the government spends crores of rupees under MGNREGS, but the Centre-sponsored scheme seems to have failed to achieve its objectives due to irregularities or delayed payment of wages in some cases.
It is said that timely clearance of wages can be a factor for success of the scheme in the backward district. The scheme assumes much importance for daily wagers and job card holders during the ongoing pandemic-troubled times.
The government laid thrust on proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGREGS) as a panacea to ensure earning scope for the rural workforce in their localities at this difficult time.
But, delay in clearing wages of the job card holders has become a cause of concern for labourers. It is alleged that delayed wage has been a hurdle for its successful execution in the migration-hit district.
As wages are not cleared in time, daily wagers are not interested to work in the ongoing projects. According to a report, scores of job card holders in Komna block of this district have been awaiting their wages for the last nine months.
Their families are living in misery. Job card holders of Agren village – Duryodhan Majhi, Balabhadra Majhi, Ramesh Majhi, Raj Kumar Majhi, Tarasan Nag, Gangaram Nag and Bhuban Nag lamented that they worked in a project nine months ago, but they have not yet received their payment.
They warned of agitation if no step is taken to clear their dues in a week. Same is the problem with other job card holders of the village.
Minaketan Majhi, Chandrabhanu Gahir and Mukund Sagaria said as their wages are pending, they have to face a lot of difficulties in meting daily expenses of their families.
“We are working for wages. There is no point working under MGNREGS when wages will not be paid for months together,” they lamented.
Over 70 job card holders of the same village have not got their wages. They alleged that they have been running from pillar to post, starting from the panchayat office to the collectorate about their wage issue, but nothing is done.
“We are only assured by officials that an investigation into MGNREGS projects is underway and the issue will be sorted out soon” they said.
They said that agriculture activities are peaking up now, but they have no funds at hand. If their wages had been cleared, they would spend money on buying implements and seeds.
When contacted, Komna BDO Sadashiv Bhatra said an investigation into wage delay is in progress and it is expected to be settled soon.
PNN