Delay in payment of wages, inability to provide jobs affect MGNREGS implementation in Maharashtra

 

By Kartik Lokhande 

Even a well-intentioned measure may draw a flak if field-level staff is not serious about its implementation. This, precisely, appears to be happening in Maharashtra as far as implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is concerned.
Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had launched the flagship programme MGNREGS with much fanfare. Congress-led Maharashtra Government also had adopted it with great enthusiasm. However, as it stands today, Maharashtra Government has been not been able to provide jobs to all those moving a demand under the assured employment scheme. As a result, it is supposed to pay ‘unemployment allowance’ of Rs 98,72,552. Besides, it has failed in making payments to labourers in time, for which it has to pay compensation of a whopping Rs 4,66,48,538.
Of the total amount of ‘unemployment allowance’ payable across the State, an amount of Rs 27,54,798 is payable in Vidarbha region alone. In Vidarbha region also, the highest amount of ‘unemployment allowance’ is payable in Wardha district, followed closely by Amravati. As far as ‘delayed compensation’ is concerned, of a total amount of Rs 4.66 crore payable in entire Maharashtra, almost half -- Rs 2,18,08,125 -- is payable in 11 districts of Vidarbha region alone. This means, delay is more severe in Vidarbha region compared to other parts of the State. In Vidarbha also, the highest amount of ‘delayed compensation’ payable is Rs 38,05,702 in Gondia district.
Under MGNREGS, ‘unemployment allowance’ is payable if there is demand for work under the scheme but the Government is unable to make it available. ‘Delayed compensation’ is payable if a labourer does not get wages within 15 days of closing of muster for a particular work. As per the norms, compensation of 0.05 per cent of the wages are to be paid per day from 16th day of closing of muster for a work. In the current financial year, in Maharashtra, only 21 per cent of the wages have been paid within 15 days of closing of muster, says official data.
As per the official reports, of 1,29,392 days for which ‘unemployment allowance’ is payable, the allowance has been approved only in case of 1,197 days and the same has been rejected in 1,933 days. ‘Workers not willing to work’ is the reason assigned in 1,831 of the rejected cases. In 102 cases, the reason mentioned is -- ‘worker died’. Of a total 10,31,63,054 days for which ‘delayed compensation’ is payable, delay has been rejected in 2,415 days citing various reasons like insufficient fund (154 days), natural calamities (1,402 days), and compensation not due (859 days). As on August 29, ‘unemployment allowance’ has not been paid even in single case; while, ‘delayed compensation’ of Rs 1,73,62,611 has been paid across the State.
“There appears to be some technical error. We have called for technical analysis from all districts. We can make any comment on the issue of unemployment allowance only after the analysis,” said M Sankarnarayan, MGNREGS Commissioner, Maharashtra. He told ‘The Hitavada’ that responsibility has been fixed for ‘delayed compensation’. The Government was to pay for the delay in compensation and recover the amount thus paid from the officials/employees concerned. The Government was to make payment of ‘delayed compensation’ till July 31, 2014.
“Recently, the deadline has been extended till December 31, 2014. From January 1, 2015, the amount of delayed compensation will be recovered from officials and employees concerned,” said Sankarnarayan. As per the latest decision, in case of delay in payment of wages to labourers, the amount of compensation will be recovered from Gram Rozgar Sevak at maximum Rs 100 per month, Technical Officer-- Rs 250 per month, Data Entry Operator-- Rs 200 per month, Assistant Accounts Officer/Awwal Karkun/Clerk-- Rs 250 per month, and Programme Officer/Joint Programme Officer-- Rs 500 per month.

Unemployment allowance, delayed compensation payable in Vidarbha

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District         Unemployment Allowance     Delayed Compensation

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Nagpur             Rs 52,124                                  Rs 2,71,922

Wardha            Rs 6,38,322                               Rs 7,53,352

Bhandara         Rs 10,676                                  Rs 23,05,465

Gondia             Rs 17,191                                  Rs 38,05,702

Chandrapur     Rs 4,30,180                               Rs 37,11,072

Gadchiroli       Rs 3,61,649                               Rs 31,83,203

Akola              Rs 1,21,518                               Rs 16,29,535

Amravati        Rs 6,03,704                               Rs 18,94,357

Buldhana        Rs 39,407                                  Rs 3,57,037

Washim          Rs 1,95,779                               Rs 9,78,632

Yavatmal        Rs 2,84,248                               Rs 29,17,848

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Total              Rs 27,54,798                              Rs 2,18,08,125

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(Source: nrega.nic.in) 

 (29-08-14)