Though the State Government has announced to provide 200 days of work under the MGNREGA in a bid to curb migration of people from the drought-hit areas, now the Government is in a fix with limited fund under the job scheme.
While the availability of amount with the State to provide work to job card holders under MGNREGA scheme during 2015-16 financial year (upto March, 2016) is Rs579.37crore, Rs20,880 crore is required to provide 200-days of work to 60 lakh job card holders at the rate Rs174 per day.
In response to a RTI query filed by rights activist Pradip Pradhan, the Panchayati Raj Department informed that out of total budget of Rs1471.76 crore earmarked for the period 2015-16, Rs892.38 crore has been spent as on October 17 while only 579.37crore is left with the Government to ensure jobs till March, 2016.
Now the question is raised that how the State Government would provide 200 man-days to 60 lakhs job card holders with just limited amount of around Rs600 crore, asked Pradhan.
As per the report of the State Government, drought situation prevailed in 26 districts of the total 30 districts of the State.