The Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress Committee today held a demonstration against the alleged failure of the state government in effectively implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Led by party vice-president R S Pathania, over 700 activists raised slogans and held demonstrations at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Samba. Pathania claimed the Centre’s flagship job-guarantee scheme has failed to achieve the desired results in the trouble-torn state where unemployed youth have taken to guns and stones. "Although the Act has made provisions for imposition of penalties, there is no authority which can be approached to seek penalties against erring officers," he said. Pathania said lesser rate of wages with no provision of higher wages for skilled labourers, paucity of staff, lack of proper social audit mechanism through Gram Panchayats and failure to put in place proper monitoring devices were some of the factors which have affected the scheme. He also demanded that the wage rate be enhanced to Rs 200 from Rs 110 per day. Pathania also called for payment of wages to labourers through post offices as they are easily accessible in villages.