MNREGA workers allege underpayment in Balachoki, Himachal Pradesh

MNREGA workers allege underpayment in Balachoki, Himachal Pradesh

Shimka, June 2

National Flagship program, MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), launched by the former UPA government, is facing allegations of underpayment in Balachoki, Himachal Pradesh. The workers have lodged a complaint, stating that they have been underpaid, which is a violation of the provisions of the act.

Mahendra Singh Rana, the Mandi District unit chief of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), submitted a memorandum to the Block Development Officer of Balachoki, highlighting the alleged exploitation of MNREGA workers. According to the complaint, despite working for 14 days in the month of May, the laborers received wages for only one to five days. The payment made to their workers’ accounts was at rates varying from Rs 80 to Rs 212 per day.

The DYFI has expressed deep concern over the situation, as the MNREGA workers did not receive the minimum wages guaranteed by the government. Furthermore, unauthorized deductions were made in their payments, despite their dedicated service for 14 days. Such actions are considered a breach of the MNREGA law, according to the DYFI.

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The organization has set a deadline of May 5 for the dispute to be resolved and strongly condemned the functioning of the administration in this matter. The Balachoki Block Development Officer informed the DYFI that the anomalies occurred due to a shortage of staff. However, if the issue is not resolved by next month, the DYFI has threatened to stage a protest outside the BDO office.

The delegation that submitted the memorandum included Naujawan Sabha District President Mahendra Rana, Regional Committee President Devendra Kumar, MNREGA, and other workers’ organization convenor Inder Singh, co-convenor Kehar Singh, along with Indira Devi, Kamla Devi, Nirmala, and others.