AJKPC flays Govt for non-payment of wages to labourers under MGNREGA

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) has taken a serious note of non-payment of wages to poor labourers in rural areas under the Centre’s flagship programme, MGNREGA scheme, even after the six months of completion of developmental works in Jammu and Kashmir.
The AJKPC, which is the frontline body of elected Panches and Sarpanches in the State, has also made a fervent appeal to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to look into the serious lapses on the part of State machinery and the central authorities to provide a much-needed relief to poor labourers of the State.
“More than six months have lapsed since the developmental works, executed under MGNREGA scheme, were completed in Jammu and Kashmir but poor labourers have not been paid the minimum wages till date. This is the gross violation of MGNREGA scheme as the minimum wages of labourers were supposed to be paid within 15 days after the completion of developmental works,” Anil Sharma, president AJKPC said in a statement issued here.
He said the Union Finance Minister recently asserted that MGNREGA had underwent change under NDA and new initiatives were taken besides increasing the fund allocation to the scheme but ground realities did not match his claims as MGNREGA scheme has virtually been turned defunct in Jammu and Kashmir due to sluggish approach of the State and the  Central Governments.
“The Union Finance Ministry must conduct an inquiry as to why the minimum wages of labourers have not been paid in Jammu and Kashmir even after the lapse of six months of completion of developmental works. Where did the money, if released by the Centre, go? The Government has developed an attitude of indifference towards the scheme,” Sharma said.
He also requested the State rural development and Panchayati Raj Department to take up the matter with the concerned authorities at the Centre for early payment of wages to the labourers. He warned that the AJKPC would launch a State-wide agitation if the wages of poor labourers are not paid with in 15 days.

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