CM requests PM for early release of MGNREGS wages
    Date :04-Apr-2020

MGNREGS_1  H x
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in yet another letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged him for early release of the first three months wages worth Rs 1,016 crore, for financial year 2020-21, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from Centre. The Chief Minister in the letter has stated that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is an important component of rural economy.
 
Approximately, 89.20 lakh labourers from 39.56 lakh families are registered under this scheme in Chhattisgarh, of which approximately 66.05 lakh workers from 32.82 lakh families actively get employment through the scheme. At the beginning of March 2020, about 12 lakh workers in State were working under the scheme every day. Due to the precautionary measures undertaken since last 10 days for prevention and control of Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and infection thereon, the number of workers has significantly decreased.
 
The Chief Minister stated that the State Government, while ensuring all necessary measures to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection, has instructed the District Programme Coordinators to approve livelihood promotion and people oriented works that do not require gathering of a large number of workers at one place. This step has been taken to provide employment to the labourers so as to secure their means of livelihood. The Chief Minister said that the main reason why workers are not showing up at work is the delayed payment of wages under the scheme.
 
He apprised the Prime Minister that at present, payment of wages worth Rs 484 crore is pending in Chhattisgarh under this scheme. In these adverse circumstances, payment of pending wages is urgently required. Also, in order to ensure time-bound wage payment in the coming months, the Chief Minister urged for the early release of the approved labor budget of Rs 1,016 crore against 534.73 lakh man-days, at the prescribed wage rate of Rs 190 per day for the first quarter of the financial year 2020-21.