BHOPAL : Two to three per cent labourers are getting 100 days jobs in a year under the MNREGA programme in the state. How state government is helping villagers to overcome from poverty is evident through this fact.
In the last two financial years ie 2014-15 and 2015-2016 very few families have been given 100 days work, in each financial year.
The objective of MNREGA is to provide employment at the doorstep, stop migration and also to eradicate poverty from villages.
In the year 2014-15 in the state around 85 lakh families were holding job cards. Out of total number only 1,57,912, around 1.85 per cent, job card holders were given jobs for 100 days.
Similarly, in the year 2015-16, a reduced number of 79,88,734 families were holding the job cards and only 2,25,599 families, ie only 2.82 percent, have jobs for 100 days. The official informed that this programme was launched with good motives, but the implementation at grassroots level is very poor.
Even the payment to contractors and labours is not being made on time. It is claimed that the sizable payment of the contractors and that of labourers is also outstanding.
According to programme, the 40 per cent of fund is spent on the construction works and remaining 60 percent is allotted for payment to labourers. More than 16 works are done under the programme, like water harvesting, prevention of drought situation, renovations of ponds and lakes, land developments, rural connectivity, village sanitation, village drinking water and many others. It has been informed that, the Union rural development ministry’s empowered committee has agreed to the labour budget of 1427.27 lakh person-days for financial year 2016-17 for the state. The state has the opportunity come up with a proposal for the revision of Labour Budget after September, 2016, if the actual performance exceeds the agreed to Labour Budget.
But interestingly the state is still waiting to get more budget to pay out the dues of labours and contractors.
