Residents of Palayampatti protest against denial of jobs under MGNREGS
The protest was organised by Cauvery Vaigai Kiruthumal Gundar Irrigation Farmers' Federation.
Its Virudhunagar district president, Rampandian, said that the State Government had announced annexure of parts of Palayampatti panchayat with Arupukottai municipality. However, after the promise made by the Revenue Minister, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, that the merger with urban local body would not be done, the people of those areas gave up their protests.
In the meantime, the job under MGNREGS has been denied to the areas in Palayampatti panchayat proposed for merger with Aruppukottai municipality.
'The Aruppukottai Panchayat officials claimed that the district administration has given oral instruction not to give jobs under the scheme to the people of those areas. The officials of the union have been warned of recovering the wages under the scheme to be given to the people in the event of merger of those areas with the municipality is announced,' Mr. Rampandian said.
He added that the people of these rural areas were in burdened with additional expenditure as their wards have to go back to school after reopening.
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