AP State Govt urged to permit formation of unions for NREGS workers in Anantapur

Anantapur: Campaigners for NREGS labourers cause Narinder Bedi, Manisha K and Ganesh Iyer, in a joint press statement, requested the state government to solve the long pending demand of the NREGS workers for formation of unions and maintaining them at government expense. The NREGS Act makes a provision for 3 percent budget allotment to be spent by NGO's on the formation of unions in every Gram Panchayat. NREGS workers number 13 million in the state. Frauds in NREGS funds spending were reported in several states and in many cases, wages were either delayed inordinately or they were denied works. The labour unions play a pivotal role in fighting for their rights under the NREGS Act.

Bedi pointed out that his Young India Project NGO was on the job for 21 years organising unions and supported by a Dutch agency. The agency withdrew from India in 2004 resulting in the NGO working with the government since 2005 on the formation of workers unions in every panchayat. There are 3.3 million families registered under MGNREGA in the state. The budget for 2019- 2020 is Rs. 6,500 crore of which Rs. 3,900 crore was meant for wages, and Rs. 2600 crore for materials. Separately Rs. 390 crore allocated for administration of which 3% will be needed to support 130 NGOs, 1,000 local educated men and women to organise GPSs of workers.