Chavan urged to look into plight of MGNREGA workers

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A representative of MGNREGA workers has written a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, drawing his attention towards the plight of persons employed in Vidarbha under the Centre’s flagship rural job programme.

In the letter, advocate Vinod Tiwari, a leader of MGNREGA Workers Employment Rights Action Committee, has requested Chavan to look into the plight of workers and issue necessary instructions to officials concerned.

The committee has alleged that they are denied work and due wages by authorities, who have adopted a “casual” approach towards implementation of the mega scheme in Vidarbha region of the State.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in villages by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Maharashtra receives Rs 4,000 crore per annum under the scheme, but due to “casual” approach of authorities the workers are denied work and wages. Also, a large part of the fund remains un-utilised, Tiwari maintained.

He said it was a matter of dismay that poor and unlettered tribal workers suffer due to certain procedural errors at the Programme Officer level and due to lack of coordination among officials.