Even as the State Government has been demanding a minimum age of Rs200 for MGNREGS workers, the Union Government has unaltered the wage rate for Odisha at Rs174.
The Ministry of Rural Development rescheduled the wage rates for various States and Union Territories on March 23. The list shows that while the wage rate of Rs174 remains unchanged for Odisha, 28 other States have got hikes in the rate.
Notably, the Government had been demanding to hike the wage rate to Rs200 in view of frequent droughts and other calamities being faced by the people.
Meanwhile, the unchanged wage rate has invited reaction from different quarters.
“It is disappointing that the Centre has not increased the MGNREGS wage rate despite our continued demand,” Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahoo told mediapersons.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said wage has not been hiked as the consumer price index stands negative now. However, he stated that he would hold talks with the Union Rural Development Ministry in this regard soon.