MGNREGS workers demand payment of wage arrears
Demanding immediate release of wage arrears by the government, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers staged a protest at their workplaces at Panasalapadu and Losingi villages in Anakapalli district on Wednesday.
Addressing the workers, Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Karmika Sangam (A.P. Agricultural Workers Sangam) vice-president K. Govinda Rao said that 27 lakh daily wage workers and their families across the State were struggling as their wages of ₹8,500 crore have not been paid by the government. The salaries of 15,000 employees, recruited under the scheme from the village to the State-level, have not been paid their salaries for the past three months, he alleged.
Workers in rural areas are dependent on MNREGS for a livelihood during the summer months and their wages have to be paid within 15 days of the completion of the work.
The technical assistants, field assistants recruited at the Mandal Computer Centres, for the supervision of MNREGS works, and various levels of employees recruited at the State-level have not been paid their salaries for the past few months, Mr. Govinda Rao alleged.
The workers would organise an agitation after a week if the wage arrears were not cleared by then, he added.
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