RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.14: Over 1.45 lakh fund transfer orders (FTOs) of the state government for the payment of MGNREGA workers are pending in the bank and the workers are running from pillar to post to get their due payment.
A government official associated with MNREGA informed this saying the fund transfer order was issued between April 1 to August 12 and the amount involved is more than Rs 355 crore.
“After releasing of the FTO, the amount should be transferred in the account of workers but this is not happening. When workers come to us we wash our hands showing FTO but when the worker goes to the bank to ask regarding payment bankers say there is no amount in the account from where the wage is paid. Workers feel harassed and disgusted,” the government official said without citing any particular reason for the same.
An MNREGA worker from Janho village under Manika block of Palamu district, Sunita Devi, confirmed this situation saying usually she used to get her payment within 15 days but for the last one month she has not received the amount.
“Not only me but as many as 25 workers in my village have not got their wages. Delay in payment has made us worried,” Devi said, sharing her problem.
Another MNREGA worker Kamlesh Singh Kharwa, a resident of Chapri Panchayat under Barwadih block of Latehar district, supported Devi saying he has not got his Rs 2700 for his 12-day work done in April this year for construction of ‘Dobha’ of Triloki Ram.
MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work to enhance livelihood security in rural areas but the way payment gets trapped spoils the spirit behind the law.
Contacted rural development secretary Manish Ranjan for his comment he suggested contacting MGNREGA commissioner of the state Rajeshwari B for comment.
Rajeshwari admitted the problem saying it will be sorted out within a week.
“Wage payment is done by central account and we are in regular contact with the Centre for release of funds. Until the fund does come our FTOs will remain pending,” she said.
