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 paya...