NREGA Sangharsh Morcha demands payment of pending wages and further fund allocations for MGNREGA

-Press statement by NREGA Sangharsh Morcha dated 17th November, 2021

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has provided a cushion to millions of rural households amidst great economic distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. A substantial portion of the household expenditure in rural areas has been met through the NREGA wages and the nation has witnessed a significant rise in the demand for work under the programme since the pandemic had hit us. However, while the actual demand and need for work has only increased on the ground, the programme has run out of funds. More than 90 percent of the Central Government's budget allocation for the programme had already been exhausted with about 5 months remaining in the current financial year. On top of that, the rationale for the trifurcation of FTO based on the caste categories of workers is unclear and is causing unnecessary tension among the workers. This is also at odds with the universal nature of the MGNREG Act. We would also like to highlight that as on 14th November 2021, 3.46 crores transactions are pending for response and the following are the pending wages in various states from the centre for this financial year.

In the light of the current crisis of delayed payments and low fund balance availability with states, People’s Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) had released their half-yearly NREGA performance tracker highlighting the issues. Also, LibTech India had released a report titled Heavy Wait. In this context, NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM) network in various states sent deputations to CMs demanding: 

1. The pending wages from the central government to be released immediately.
2. Considering the need for creating more employment in the rural parts of the state, adequate additional allocations be made for NREGA.
3. Provision at least 150 days of work for each job card holding household in this financial year.
4. The caste-based trifurcation of FTO needs to be revoked.
 
And further demanded to communicate these demands to the Central Government for seeking their proactive action.

(Please click here to access the detailed state-wise note for the same).

In such trying times, the spirit of MGNREGA as an entitlement for people’s right to work with dignity and social protection must be strengthened. We sincerely hope that the Government of India will make much-awaited provisions at such a critical juncture.

For further details, please contact:

NREGA Sangharsh Morcha

Debmalya: 729418484 | Anuradha: 9433002064  | Pawan: 9609725298  | Tapojay: 7718011678  | Apurva: 9313759050 

Email: nrega.sangharsh.morcha@gmail.com

Image Courtesy: MKSS Rajasthan