Union plans strike as only 10pc of MGNREGS manpower getting work

A total of 1.16 crore farmers and agricultural labourers in Tamil Nadu have registered with the MGNREGS. The lockdown played havoc in their lives and the state government allowed the beneficiaries to work from April 27 with a series of restrictions.

Accordingly, the officials were firm on ensuring social distancing and reduced the workforce to less than 10 per cent. “Only less than 20 persons are allowed to work during lockdown. For instance, there are 433 panchayats in Thanjavur revenue district and only less than 13,000 were allotted works under the scheme,” K Pakkirisamy, state secretary of All India Agricultural Labourers Union told DT Next.

Pakkirisamy said that the MGNREGS beneficiaries were elated after the announcement to resume works, but later were dejected on learning the restrictions that led to minimum work force.

He charged that the works were not continuously given. “In Thanjavur, works were allotted on April 28, 29 and 30 and then May 4, 5 and 6 and that too used less than 20 persons from each panchayat while in a few districts, the works are yet to commence,” he said.

Since the release of water from Mettur Dam on its customary date of June 12 is almost certain this year, “The MGNREGS beneficiaries are mainly used for desilting the waterbodies which is inevitable for Kuruvai cultivation,” he said.

He pointed out that there is no point in ensuring social distancing among the MGNREGS workers as their nature of work itself would make them maintain distance and so the government should allow all the card holders to resume activities which would ensure their daily bread at least, Pakkirisamy said.

He also said that they have sent representation to all the officials. “If our requests are not heard, we will stage a state-wide protest on May 12 by ensuring social distancing,” he added.