This flagship scheme of the then UPA government at the Centre has so far failed to achieve its objectives in Assam. Interestingly, in many districts of the State, work under the MGNREGA is going on without labourers being paid their wages for a long time
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) creates a “right to work” by promising up to 100 days of wage employment per year to all rural households whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Employment is provided in public works projects at a stipulated wage.
But this flagship scheme of the then UPA government at the Centre has so far failed to achieve its objectives in Assam. Interestingly, in many districts of the State, work under the MGNREGA is going on without labourers being paid their wages for a long time.
The fundamental problems dogging the scheme in the State are that poor families are not getting the work they want under the scheme, and they are often not getting the full wages due to them.
Official records stated that Rs 66.26 crore as wages under the MGNREGA is yet to be paid to the households who have job cards. It may be mentioned that per day wage of a household registered under the MGNREGA is Rs 167.
As per government’s rules, job card holders should be paid their wages through bank accounts. In Assam, there are presently 4,15,8525 job card holders and 2,15,1205 of them already got their wages through bank accounts.
In the current fiscal year, only 3,064 out of 4,15,8525 job card holders got their 100 days of work under the scheme.
In the districts like Udalguri, Dima Hasao, Hailakandi and Kamrup (Metro), not a single MGNREGA card holder were given 100 days of work in the current fiscal year.
Given the present situation, it can be said this flagship scheme of the Central government is dying a slow death in the State.
Recently, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said Assam should get Rs 1,100 crore from the Central government under the MGNREGA in the current fiscal year but the State would only receive Rs 520 crore after the fund cut decision taken by the Centre.
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