As all the workers engaged in the MGNREGA are not receiving their wages in time, the Union Government has asked the Odisha Government to ensure timely payment without delay.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has pointed out to the State Government that the workers engaged in the flagship programme must receive their wages in a stipulated time.
According to official information, while 56 per cent of the workers are receiving wages in time at least 44 per cent of workers are not receiving their wages timely, for which they face tough condition to maintain their livelihood.
Union Secretary MoRD Amarjeet Sinha has brought to the notice of the State Government in this regard and said the workers engaged in the MGNREGA should receive their wages on a weekly basis and, in any case, not later than a fortnight from the date of closure of the muster rolls.
In case wages are not paid within stipulated period of 15 days from the date of closure of muster rolls, the MGNREGA workers are entitledto receive payment of compensation for the delay.
So the MoRD has fixed the rate of compensation @0.05 per cent for the unpaid wages per day of delay beyond sixteenth day of the closure of muster roll, said he.
The MoRD has requested the State Government to ensure that muster rolls are filled, measurements are done, and fund transfer orders are pushed on time.
In addition, all the delay compensation claims are to be verified without delay and eligible cases must be paid upfront by the State Government, said Sinha.
In this connection, the Supreme Court of India has expressed concern, said sources.
According to the latest analysis taken up by MoRD, at the national level, 87 per cent of the transactions are paid within 15 days of the closure of muster roll during 2017-18.
The data uploaded in the MGNREGA Management Information System (MIS), indicate that timely payment of wages is only 56.01 per cent, which needs improvement.
The issue has recently been raised with NITI Aayog by the Odisha Government as the MoRD is not releasing funds in a time bound manner.
Representing the case, the Odisha Government urged the NITI Aayog to intervene in the matter.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan held talks with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagaria, who is supportive of the cause of the State.
State Officials in Department of Panchayati Raj say that if the MoRD releases funds in time, there will be hardly any difficulty on their part to release wages to the workers in time.