AIKKMS stages protest in Ballari demanding immediate release of pending NREGA wages

The Hindu

2 days ago

The All-India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) staged a protest on Tuesday in front of the zilla panchayat office in Ballari, demanding the immediate release of pending wages for labourers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The demonstration, led by the district unit of AIKKMS, drew hundreds of wage workers who had not received their dues for over two months, despite having completed work under the government employment scheme. A memorandum was submitted to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the ZP, urging the release of payments and seeking intervention from both State and Central authorities.
Speaking at the protest, AIKKMS district president Govind noted that in the past, wages were usually disbursed within five to 10 days of work. 'However, this time the situation is entirely different. Many labourers are in dire straits. Even chilli and paddy farmers have faced losses owing to poor market prices. They used to migrate to urban areas in search of livelihood options. But they worked in MGNREGA to earn a livelihood. However, they have not been paid their wages. With no savings to fall back on, the people of this region are on the brink of desperation,' he said.
Mr. Govind further highlighted the rising cost of essential commodities which has made survival even more difficult for families awaiting their wages. 'These delays have pushed entire families into financial distress,' he added, urging authorities to act swiftly in releasing the pending payments.
District secretary Guralli Raj raised another concern about the possible denial of the full 100 days of guaranteed work under MGNREGA, along with the legally stipulated daily wage of ₹370. 'Work is progressing at a snail's pace in several panchayats. There is a genuine fear that many workers will be deprived of both their rightful number of workdays and the full wage,' he said.
He called upon the government to guarantee 100 days of employment for every household as per their entitlements, ensure full payment of ₹370 per day to each worker, and make available all associated benefits under the MGNREGA scheme.
The protest saw participation from several union leaders and hundreds of workers from across the district.
Officials who received the memorandum promised the protesters that the issue would be taken up prominently in the upcoming meeting with the Chief Minister on the 30th and 31st of this month. They also promised to raise the matter with the Union government and resolve all local-level issues affecting the timely payment of wages.