The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Minister denies holding back wages under rural job scheme

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Minister denies holding back wages under rural job scheme

Special Correspondent

Says it is working well in the State

E.V. Velu

CHENNAI: Food Minister E.V. Velu on Thursday denied that officials had wrongfully held back part of the wages in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Responding to a charge from K. Balabharathy (CPI-M) in the Assembly, Mr. Velu said the programme was aimed at providing 100 days of employment a year to people in villages across the country. The scheme was working well in Tamil Nadu and the State had drawn all-round praise.

The wages for a specified quantum of work for a full day was Rs.80. But, if the quantum of work was less than what was specified, then some money was deducted. This was done following the norms, he said.

Officials blamed

Participating in the debate on the budget proposals for 2008-09, Ms. Balabharathy said officials were standing in the way of people getting the entire day’s wages. They were doing this citing one reason or the other.

She was supported by her party colleague, N. Nanmaran, who also said that these were not isolated complaints.

Ms. Balabharathy and K. Ulaganathan (CPI) asked the government not to encourage mechanisation of agriculture. Agriculture Minister Veerapandi K. Arumugham said the idea was to procure machines to help farmers in agricultural operations. The government had also procured equipment and hired these out to farmers. It was now granting concession to private operators for doing the same.

Aid sought for fishermen

M.K. Vishnu Prasad (Congress) wanted the government to also extend assistance to fishermen who were unable to venture into the sea because of rain. He asked the government to take over land from Non Resident Indians who had brought large tracts of farm land and left it fallow.

He requested the government to permit MLAs to have revolving lights on their vehicles. He wanted green lights since other colours — red, yellow and blue — were already taken.

P. Thangamani (AIADMK) alleged that the law and order situation in the State had worsened. This was attested to by members of the the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Communist Party of India. He also said that the State suffered from unannounced power cuts.

Responding, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami wanted the member to specify the place that suffered a power cut. No area had reported a power problem in the past 15 days, he asserted.

Plea for college

T.K. Raja (PMK) wanted a government college at Tirupathur, a demand that PWD Minister Durai Murugan said would be considered once the member took the initiative to fulfil the current criterion followed to set up a college — donate 10 acres and Rs.1 crore. “Arcot [Veeraswami] and I will help raise funds to construct the college,” he added.

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