In April this year, the Centre revised the MGNREGA wage across states with some, such as West Bengal and Assam have been hiked by Rs 2 and Rs 3 respectively.
A drought-hit state, workers have now decided to return the Rs 5 to Prime Minister Modi, as a sign of protest, this May Day.
“We feel that you need the extra five rupees more than we do, since your government has so many expenses,” the letter sent by a section of MGNREGA workers in Manika (Latehar, Jharkhand), reads.
“This action was initiated by Grameen Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh, a local organisation of rural workers. Among other activities, members of the Sangh are struggling to secure their rights under NREGA, including employment on demand and payment within 15 days. However, interest in NREGA work is waning in the area because wages are so low. The minimum wage in Jharkhand is Rs 212 per day,” a statement released, said.
MGNREGA wage rates vary from state to state and are revised by indexing them to the consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPIAL) for a particular state.
In the first two years of the job scheme, the wage rates had been the same as the minimum agricultural wage rates of the states concerned.
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