The unpaid wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to workers in the State would be disbursed soon on receipt of central funds, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar informed the State Assembly here on Tuesday.
The Panchayat and Rural Development Department has taken an advance of Rs100 crore from the State government towards the payment of wages to the MGNREGA workers. It has also asked the Central government to provide Rs241 crore, he said.The payment of wages would be made as soon the State government receives the Central fund, the Minister said in response to the issue raised by the Congress members in the State Assembly.
Congress member lalji Singh Tharia wanted to know from the minister the works undertaken under the scheme in area under Dharamjaigarh Assembly Constituency in 2013-14.Chandrakar replied that 1156 works have been approved during the period. Of them 123 works have been completed while 1441 works were under progress. Works for 592 projects have not yet started, he said.
On allegation that large number of works have not been carried out, Chandrakar said it is a scheme under which works are provided to those who demand. Many works have been kept for Panchayat’s approval.On the complaint that workers are not being paid their wages, he said it was not done due to a gap of about Rs 241 crore. Because of that the Department has taken an advance of Rs100 crore from the State government. Soon the unpaid wages would be paid, he said.