The Odisha Shramjeebee Manch (OSM), an association overseeing the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), on Thursday expressed grave concern over the failure of the State Government to properly implement the flagship progamme for rural development.
Addressing mediaperosns here, Manch convenor Anjan Pradhan said the MGNREGA scheme is being implemented in the State only on paper. "Though it is mandatory under the scheme to provide 100 days' employment to each job card holder, in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Gajpati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts, a majority of the card holders have been roaming from one place to another to get jobs.
"The administration has completely failed to provide them 100 days' employment. It is found that sufficient C1 forms are not available at the gram panchayat offices and the card holders are not provided jobs and receipts," said Pradhan.
"The MGNREGA is a revolutionary step to create job opportunities for rural people, but the State Government has miserably failed to ensure benefits of this scheme which has been proved beneficial for poor people in other parts of the country," added Anjan Pradhan.
"We urge the Government to keep the gram panchayat offices open for three days a week, besides ensuring availability of sufficient C1 forms. Till opening of new individual bank accounts, the entire household must be allowed to work through one Pass Book account.
The payment should be ensured within 15 days of work," he said and also demanded an increase in the minimum wage to Rs 200 from Rs 126 per day.