Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: A day after the state government’s announcement to provide 200 days of work to people in drought-hit areas under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday raised doubts on its execution in the state.
Three days back, the Centre had announced 150 days of work under MGNREGA in drought-hit areas across the country against the existing 100 days. The state government, however, raised it to 200 days in a bid to prevent possible migration of people from drought-hit areas in the state.
At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the state government decided to extend the MGNREGA scheme and decided to bear the additional burden for the additional 50 days.
Lambasting the state government for allegedly improper implementation of MGNREGA in the state, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said, “Mere announcement won’t work. The state government must ensure its implementation.”
“At a time when the state government has failed to provide even 100 days of work to labourers, how would it provide 200 days work?” asked MIshra.
“The improper execution of the scheme has led to migration of thousands of people from western Orissa every year.”
Pointing to poor turnout of workers at work under the scheme, Mishra said while the government could provide work to labourers in construction sector, especially in road work and construction of bridges and dams, it engages labourers only for soil digging for which labourers are now reluctant to work under the scheme and the state government is responsible for it.
Likewise, BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda said the move of the state government is a mere announcement just to hijack the Centre’s initiative.
“The move of the state government is a mere announcement and is far away from its implementation,” Panda said adding, “Had it provided 100 days of work, the migration of labourers from western Orissa wouldn’t have increased.”
Panda said the state government has failed to conduct a proper audit of the scheme and the middlemen are taking advantage of the situation. They are exploiting labourers in the name of providing work under the scheme, he added.
However, the BJD refuted the allegations, saying the working days have been increased with an aim to curb migration and bounded labour.
BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said the state government will ensure labour intensive works.
Earlier, Panchayati Raj minister Arun Sahoo has announced that the additional 50 days of work would be utilised in works under the Biju Pucca Ghar, IAY, rural livelihood mission, soil conservation and construction of Anganwadi houses. From 2011-12 to 2015-16 (August), 9,700 check dams have been constructed under MGNREGA, the minister informed.
