Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 10: In sheer violation of standing norms and the spirit of the much publicized Centrally sponsored scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), lakhs of people belonging to the labour class, have been denied their hard earned wages worth over Rs 314 crore in the J&K State for the last over one year.
A poor person belonging to labour class required wages in the evening after completion of work so that he or she could feed his/ her family by getting meals in the evening but if the labourer is denied wages for months together, then there is no purpose of such schemes. It indicated that the real purpose of the MGNREGA Scheme is being defeated especially in this State despite the fact that spirit behind the scheme is very good for providing job to those living below poverty line or belonging to the category of poorest of the poor.
While generally the labourers are getting Rs 300 to Rs 350 per day as wages from private contractors or individuals initiating building construction works etc, the labourers under MGNREGA are being paid just Rs 145 per day. From April this year (2014), these wages are said to have been increased to Rs 157 per day. The labourers and other workers holding job cards issued by BDOs, often stage protests across the region, but concerned Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Assistant Commissioners Development (ACDs), claimed that they have not received funds from the Government and were unable to clear the huge liabilities of the workers.
Data compiled from various districts and even from the Directorates of Rural Development Department (RDD) Kashmir & Jammu, revealed that a whopping amount of Rs 314.21 crore was the liability of the RDD under MGNREGA Scheme, for which over 6.02 lakh job cards have been issued to the labourers/ workers in Jammu region alone by various BDOs. The figures also indicated that nearly 4.10 lakh cumulative number of house holds were provided employment/ job during 2013-14, ending march 2014.
Out of the total liability under MGNREGA scheme, Rs 264.21 crore pertained to Jammu region, comprising of 10 districts, whereas, in Kashmir, the liability is just nearly Rs 50 crores as each block were provided good amount for clearance of payments of labourers. Material component pendency is much in Kashmir division.
Director Rural Development Kashmir Mr Altaf when contacted disclosed that in Kashmir region, the MGNREGA liability was around Rs 50 crore ending March 2014. He disclosed that highest amount of Rs 14 crore was pending in district Kulgam, Rs 9.50 crore in Anantnag, Rs 6.70 crore in Budgam and Rs 5.2 crore in Baramulla. The pending payment was not much in other districts and labour component of the scheme has been paid in majority of the districts, Mr Altaf maintained.
The liability of workers and the material component under MGNREGA in district Doda was a whopping Rs 70 crore while it was nearly Rs 50 crore in Kishtwar and Rs 41.5 crore in district Rajouri. In Block Budhal of Rajouri district, this liability was over Rs 10 crore, followed by Rs 5 crore in Rajouri block, Rs 4 crore each in Darhal, Doongi, Kalakote and Thannamandi besides Rs 3.5 crore each in Manjakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani.
In Poonch district, the pending wages of the labourers in six blocks for the last over one year, are to the tune of Rs 15 crore. In Surankote the liability is Rs 3.25 crore, Poonch block Rs 3.16 crore, Bafliaz Rs 2.40 crore, Balakote Rs 2.87 crore, Mendhar Rs 1.37 crore and in Mandi Rs 1.91crore.
In Reasi district the MGNREGA liability is over Rs 21.74 crore and the highest worth Rs 10.55 crore is in Mahore, followed by 4.68 crore in Arnas, Rs 4.41 cr in Block Reasi and Rs 2.10 crore in Pouni block. Over 59000 families have been provided job cards and Rs 74 crore is projected amount for the next financial year in district Reasi. In Udhampur, the pending wages are to the tune of Rs 8.84 crore. The total component was to the tune of Rs 28.16 crore while Rs 19.31 crore liability was cleared some time back. Rs 2.19 crore liability was in Chenani, Rs 1.63 cr in Ramnagar, Rs 1.11 cr in Pancheri, Rs 95 lakh in Dudu, Rs 68 lakh in Majalta and Rs 78 lakh in Udhampur block.
Though district Jammu was awarded by Union RDD Ministry for best performance under MGNREGA during last financial year, yet its liability under the scheme was to the tune of Rs 35 crore. The major component belonged to Khour and Akhnoor blocks. Similarly, in Samba the liability is Rs 8.50 crore, in Kathua Rs 6.38 crore and Ramban Rs 10.59 crore.
Director Rural Development Department Jammu Shafiq Ahmed Raina when contacted claimed that department has yet to receive the funds from the Government and this is the reason behind the delay. He said the department was supposed to get the payments of the year 2013-14 in the month of March 2014 but could not receive, perhaps due to ongoing elections. When asked was it not unfair to deny payments to the poor people from Labour class, the Director said even under MGNREGA guidelines, the workers should get their wages within 15 days, but unfortunately delay in the release of funds from New Delhi is the main reason behind it. He stressed that funds should be provided to poor worker in time but it is compulsion of the officers/ BDOs concerned.
When asked about complaints of preparation of bogus lists by VLWs and fake withdrawals worth crores by field staff members under the Scheme, Raina said he has not received such compliant and if any such case comes to his notice, he would certainly act. He however, maintained that many works have been performed under the scheme and the people are being benefitted with it. He also claimed that wages being offered are very less but they are considered at country level. It has now been hiked to Rs 157 per day.
Mr Raina said that only one job card is provided to each deserving family and 100 days job guarantee is given to the family. One or more than one persons can work for 100 days in a year against each job card in the family and payments are given through cheques, Mr Raina maintained.
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