Poor wage, lack of workers fails MGNREGA growth

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 28, 2016 : Poor wages and shortage of workers are among the major deterrents in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Act (MNREGA) scheme in Udupi district. According to the information provided by the zilla panchayat here, the district ranks 16th in the State in the implementation of the scheme, which began in the year 2008-09.

The expenditure under the scheme in the district was Rs. 87.98 lakh in 2008-09, Rs. 7.62 crore in 2009-10, Rs. 2.54 crore in 2010-11, Rs. 2.62 crore in 2011-12, Rs. 2.94 crore in 2012-13, Rs. 4.26 crore in 2013-14, Rs. 5.2 crore in 2014-15 and Rs. 5.43 crore in 2015-16 (till March 22).

There are about 51,000 job card holders under the scheme in the district. According to Birti Rajesh Shetty, member of Varamballi gram panchayat, the wage given per day under the Scheme was Rs. 214. “But men workers get over Rs. 450 per day and free food and snacks if they worked elsewhere. This is the major reason why people do not work under the scheme,” he said.

Since most men in villages work in Mumbai, Bengaluru and other places, there is a shortage of workers. According to Gram panchayat member  Shetty, only the job-card holders can be given employment under the scheme.

“We are motivating women for the community works as they get lesser wages than men,” Priyanka Mary Francis, CEO of the zilla panchayat, said.