Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written a letter to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh seeking release of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
“The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is one of the important schemes for providing employment to all registered households in the rural areas and is the only scheme that provides rural residents with livelihood opportunities and long-term and durable assets in rural areas to improve village infrastructure and meet the demands of the rural population at a high level,” MK Stalin said in a letter.
Tamil Nadu has always been a top performing state in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS under various parameters. In Tamil Nadu, 92.86 lakh households have been given job cards. Of these, nearly 91.52 Lakh workers from 76.15 lakh households actively participate in the MGNREGS works on a regular basis, the letter said.
Since agriculture in Tamil Nadu is highly dependent on rain from the south-west monsoon and cyclonic rain from the north-east monsoon, erraticity in any of the above-mentioned monsoons will lead to increased demand for MGNREGS works, the report said.
“I would like to reiterate that MGNREGS is considered as an important livelihood opportunity in rural areas for many such as the elderly, indigent women, women headed households, differently-abled workers and as an additional livelihood opportunity for many in rural households , especially during the lean agricultural season.”, the Prime Minister’s letter said.
In particular, empowerment of women has been achieved through the MGNREGS as women make up the majority of the workforce and crediting wages to their bank accounts has significantly improved their finances, the Chief Minister said.
During the year 2023-2024, Tamil Nadu’s initial demand is 40 crore person days. So far, the Government of India has approved 28 crore person days. Till October 23, Tamil Nadu has reached 31.15 crore person-days, providing employment to 76.06 lakh workers from 66.26 lakh households, he said.
“In the financial year 2023-24, Rs 4,903.25 crore has been released by the Government of India for the unskilled wages to the workers till July 19. Subsequently, an amount of Rs 1,755.43 crore was approved by the Government of India on September 25. India for the payment of unskilled wages. However, of the sanctioned amount, only Rs 418,233 crore appeared to have been partially released, leaving a balance of Rs 1,337.20 crore yet to be credited to the workers’ accounts. they have not yet been released for wages for the following weeks. So as on October 20, the wage liability for the workers in Tamil Nadu had risen to Rs 2,696.77 crore,” the letter said.
“I visited Kattankulathur Panchayat Union in Chengalpattu district on October 17. During the aforesaid visit, both the public and public representatives made a plea for immediate release of unpaid wages under MGNREGS to the workers in view of the ensuing festive season. A similar request was also received by me during my visit to Tiruvannamalai district.
“In view of the foregoing, I request that the total wage liability amount of Rs 2,696.77 crore be immediately released to Tamil Nadu. Further, additional funds may also be released to unskilled workers on a regular basis. I look forward to your personal intervention in this regard,” it said the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the letter.
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