Adilabad: Despite a drought in scorching Adilabad, the number of labourers seeking work under MGNREGA has plummeted. Only about 3.91 lakh labourers have reported for work so far this year against last year’s 5.12 lakh. “Delay in payments is perhaps the major reason for wage seekers to stay away from work,” said Durgam Praveen, supervising a group of workers in Inkarguda village. Durgam Balaraju agreed with him. “It is five weeks since I have received any payment for my work,” he said. “The payment was regular until March 2014.”
Sarodi Vijay and his wife Renuka, first-time wage seekers from Nirala village, complained of not receiving any wages for the 11 weeks of work they have put in so far. “We did not go for agriculture work thinking the government would pay us promptly,” Renuka said. They now regret their decision.
“Yes, there is a delay in release of payments this year due to procedural delay,” conceded K. Srinivas, project director of the District Water Management Agency which looks afterMGNREGA works. “Of the 52 revenue mandals in this district, there are 18 in which no payment has been made to workers since April 1. In others, the workers have received at least 80 per cent of their wages,” he said. He added that all the payments would be released by June 1.
There is also disparity in the amount allocated by the two governments. The amount spent on wages in this district has slipped from Rs. 200 crore under the UPA-II in 2013-14 to Rs. 173 crore during the first year of NDA in 2014-15.
Gedam Maya, an Adivasi wage seeker in Kobbaiguda village in Indervelli mandal, said that conditions were far better about two years back. “Now, I am forced to borrow money because of lack of payment for my work over the last seven weeks,” she said.