Kerala - Kochi   

NREGS to give thrust to farm sector

KOCHI: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) will be launched in the district in April amidst apprehensions about the acceptability of a perceived low minimum wage fixed under the scheme.

P.S. Shyla, district panchayat president, said the minimum wage of Rs.125 fixed under the scheme would not be attractive to labourers, especially in a place like Kochi where they receive anything upward of Rs.300.

However, the scheme would prove beneficial if focussed on the agriculture sector, she said adding that it would be useful in the agri-dominated eastern regions of the district.

Under the scheme, the rural populace will get minimum 100 days of work in a year. Families in the rural areas, irrespective of Below Poverty Line or Above Poverty Line status, can apply to join the scheme.

Payment of equal wages to men and women for the same work is pointed out to be one of the major highlights of the scheme. The minimum wage will be Rs.125 and will increase in proportion to the nature of work.

Unique and transparent muster roll will be maintained under the scheme. The payment will be made through bank accounts. As all those who work under the scheme are unlikely to have bank accounts, the panchayat concerned would help them open an account, Ms. Shyla said.

Those willing to work under the NREGS should register their names with the village panchayat concerned. Minimum age for registration is 18 years. Registered job seekers will be given job cards. The application seeking jobs should be submitted to the village panchayat on receipt of the job card. If the cardholders are denied work, they will be eligible for unemployment wages. Free medical care and insurance cover will be given to the workers.

Ms. Shyla said the role of the district panchayat was limited in the implementation of the scheme, as grama sabhas would determine the works to be carried out under the scheme while the village panchayats would guide and supervise its implementation. The scheme will be implemented through Kudumbasree and neighbourhood units.

Complaint redressal systems will be operational at the block and district levels. Significantly, the implementation of the scheme will be under the purview of the Right to Information Act.

Ms. Shyla said funding would not be a constraint, as the Union government was prepared to make available funds as long as there was work to be provided under the scheme. The fund would be made available to the panchayat concerned through the District Rural Development Agency, she said.

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