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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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(29-08-14)
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