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Reduce working time for drought relief workers: Gehlot

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has asked the Rajasthan Government to reduce the working time by two hours for those employed in the drought relief works taking into account the intense heat wave that is sweeping the State. "The Government should take into account the vulnerability of the workforce who are exposed to the hostile weather for long hours," he said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr.Gehlot said under similar weather conditions the previous Congress Government in the State had reduced the working time for those engaged in relief works by two hours. "We had also reduced measurements for the task-based jobs so that it provided them some relief," he said.

Mr.Gehlot charged the State Government with insensitivity for continuing with the same working hours for those employed in drought relief even after a fortnight's severe heat wave conditions.

"In many places adequate relief works have not been opened. Wherever the works have been started the labourers are not paid minimum wages," he noted. Even in the six districts— Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Karauli, Jhalawar and Sirohi— selected under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, wages stipulated by the Centre were not being, he alleged.

Expressing concern over the State Government's decision to discontinue the purchase of mustard from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP), Mr.Gehlot said if lack of space to store the produce was the reason for the stoppage of buying, the task could be left with the farmers themselves.The Government agencies entrusted with the job could go to the villages and buy mustard from farmers from their households. After sealing it they could leave it in farmers' custody till Government enhanced its storage capacity, he suggested.

"The Government should do everything possible to keep up the procurement. Otherwise it would hit the mustard farmers badly and adversely affect the farm economy in the State," Mr.Gehlot said.

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