Lokesh upgrades 12K MGNREGS out sourcing workers as Fixed Tenure staff

Amaravati: Minister for Panchayat Raj N Lokesh, on Monday, announced that State government will consider the MGNREGS employees as Fixed Tenure contract employees. With this, all the 12,000 employees working in the department will get the benefits similar to that of the regular employees regarding salaries, leaves, holidays and other perks.  They have been working as out sourcing employees so far.

During a review meeting on Society for Rural Development Services Board on Monday at Secretariat, Lokesh explained that all the 12,000 field assistants, 288 office subordinates and drivers will get all the benefits as Fixed Tenure employees. 

The wages of Junior Mates working at List 2 villages will be enhanced to Rs 5500 from Rs 4500. The increased wages will be applicable from July 2018. If the field assistants, Junior Mates and Senior Mates die due to accidents while working, then the government will provide Rs 5,00,000 as compensation. It was Rs 3,00,000 till now. 

The government will not link it with the Chandranna Bheema. With this decision, the total benefit for the employees will be Rs 10 lakh including Rs 5 lakh from government and another Rs 5 lakh from the Chandranna Bheema.  In this meeting, Principal Secretary Jawahar Reddy, Panchayat Raj department director Ranjit Basha and others participated.