The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary within four weeks over use of machines under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (Act) MGNREGA projects instead of people.
The commission passed the order on July 26 taking cognizance of a petition filed by social activist and Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain. The petitioner alleged that the MGNREGA scheme, a flagship programme of the Central Government which is aimed at providing guaranteed employment for at least 100 days a year to people in rural areas but in Nayagarh district administration are engaging machines instead of labourers clearly violating the guidelines of the MGNREGA.
The petitioner further alleged that bankers and administrators with the help of brokers/dalaals are getting major part of the wages/amount of the labourers/machine through cheque by creating false master roll for which local labours are going outside the State in the form of bonded labourers. “It clearly violates human rights of labourers and due to inaction of the concerned Govt authorities people are being migrated to other State in absence of jobs,” alleged the petitioner, urging the commission to initiate criminal cases against the bankers and other concerned.