Can name of registered MGNREGA labourer be deleted without his/her consentIJ MGNREG Act says no. However the scene is frequent at Manika and Barwadeeh blocks in latehar district.
Information suggests that as many as 152 deletions have taken place in Manika while 130 deletion in barwadeeh block which has caused non-payment of wages of these and several other MGNREGA labourers.
These labouers claimed to have worked for six months under the rural job scheme and their unpaid wages is `4,35,539 for Manika block while `3,54,624 for 130 labourers of Barwadeeh. James Herenj state convener of ‘NAREGA Watch’ confirmed this, saying such deletions are uncalled for and against the rules for the registered job card holders.
James Herenj further said this is the case of this ongoing financial year and the matter is over due since last 6 months but latehar administration has done nothing to solve this issue. Sources said there is another problem plaguing the registered job card holders of MGNREGA. Banks have rejected 666 labourers payment of wages in Manika block while bank has rejected payments of 255 labourers.
Sources said banks have cited no reason for rejection of wages payment. James Herenj said banks are most apathetic to the cause of MGNREGA labourers as those are poor and hardly command any respect from the bank.
When prodded for reasons for deletion and rejection which comes to 1203 in just two blocks of latehar district the convener said, “Banks pester these labourers with updating KYC (know your customer).They want labourers’ PAN card. Should one ask for PAN card of MGNREGA labourersIJ” Sources said absence of Aadhaar number has also caused deletion and rejection of names of job card holders.
Anil Kumar Singh, DDC latehar, when contacted on phone to know what the administration plans to mitigate the sufferings of these 1203 deleted names said that he was in Delhi in connection with treatment of his ailing wife.