LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, April 4: There is disappointment among the MNREGA workers towards the state government. MNREGA Watch has said that the anti-worker face of the government has started to appear in front of the public. The MNREGA workers of the state are in a mood to take the stand for the movement. The main reason for the disappointment of the workers is the notification related to increase in MNREGA wages for the financial year 2022-23 issued by the Central Government on March 28.
The central government has fixed the wage rate for Jharkhand at Rs. 210 per day. Regarding this, the Central Government has placed Jharkhand in second place, just above the lowest rank state, Chhattisgarh, which is Rs 204.
The Chhattisgarh Government has already shown the fulfillment of its constitutional obligations by guaranteeing 50 days additional employment to the MNREGA workers of the state from their state head.
It was said on behalf of MNREGA Watch that here before coming to power, the Government of Jharkhand was showing great seriousness regarding the issues of MNREGA workers. Expressing full faith in the government, the workers have entrusted the constitutional responsibility of taking over the reins of the state by voting.
In the Pandemic of 2020, the government did a great job in the country in bringing migrant laborers to Jharkhand. While announcing a gift to MNREGA workers on the occasion of completion of one year of assuming power, the CM talked about giving wages of Rs. 225 to the laborers of the state. In the financial year 2021-22, Rs. 225 daily wages were also paid to MNREGA workers. The workers of the state were expecting that the government will not only increase the wages per working day from the state head but also give Rs. 27 to its workers. At least it must continue to increase for the financial year 2022-23.
But on the last day of the financial year, the state government issued a notification to increase the state’s MNREGA wage, in which the daily wage has been kept at Rs. 225 in this financial year as well. It is clear from this that the government has completely disappointed 1 crore 13 lakh 74 thousand laborers of the state by cutting MNREGA wages by Rs. 12 per day.
Noted economist Jean Dreze, who is called the architect of MNREGA law, has said that last year, in 2021-22, the MNREGA wage rate in the state was Rs. 225 per day. In this Rs. 198 was being given by the central government and the contribution of the state government was Rs. 27.
The central government has increased the wage rate of Jharkhand by only Rs. 12 this year to Rs. 210 per day. For the last several years, the MNREGA wage rate has been increased a little by the central government. This exposes the intention of the central government to gradually abolish MNREGA.
In 2021-22, about 11.50 crore man-days of employment were generated under MNREGA in the state. On the basis of Rs. 27 per day, the state government had spent 300 crores from its amount in payment of wages. If this year also the same employment is created as last year and the state government increases its contribution from Rs. 27 to Rs. 40 per day, then the state government will have to spend about Rs. 460 crore this year.
The increase of Rs.12 per day should not be confined to oneself. This money belongs to MNREGA workers and not the state government. Although Jharkhand NREGA Watch is committed to the demand of daily wages of Rs. 600 on the basis of the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission, it demands to increase the state contribution from Rs. 27 to Rs. 40 with immediate effect.
This demand in itself is quite limited if compared with the minimum wage rate (Rs. 315 per day) of agricultural laborers. From 2023-24, the central and state governments should together ensure that all MNREGA workers get the minimum wage rate.
Responding to the decision of the anti-labourer state government, Balram, a former state advisory member of the Supreme Court, said that the step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Jharkhand is well-known, but the state government should have ensured that its labourers, including landless, primitive tribes, Dalit tribals, women, are large.
In this, the state government will not have to bear a lot of financial burden. After all, MGNREGA schemes are only strengthening the rural economy of the state and rural infrastructure is being built on a large scale. People will be compelled to come on the streets due to the anti-worker policies. Soon, the further strategy regarding the movement will be decided.
