MNREGS fails to stem tide

Kurnool: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) appears to have lost its purpose as the scheme is unable to check migrations from rural areas.

Migrations are increasing with every passing day in Kurnool district, particularly from Adoni revenue division. An estimated five lakh people have moved out of the district till date.

Spiralling cost of living and meagre wages under MNREGS are the main reasons for workers moving to greener pastures in search of livelihood. The government scheme provides a maximum of Rs.180 per day.

The district average for daily wage is Rs.110. The amount is not paid on a daily basis and there are many stipulations. Elsewhere, wages are more and are paid daily.

Prevailing drought conditions are only adding to the number of migrants comprising agriculture labourers and small farmers.

Nearly five lakh people have moved out from Alur, Pathikonda, Dhone, Yemmiganoor, Kodmur, Adoni, Mantralayam and Panyam constituencies.

Nearly 6,000 students too have moved out with their families. Several villages wear a deserted look in Adoni revenue division.

The young and able-bodied people have gone to Guntur district to work at cotton and chilli farms or to work at industries and construction sites in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Bellary, Mumbai and other parts of India.

Speaking to The Hans India, director of National Employment Guarantee Scheme Act Implementation committee Satram Rama Krishna said that there was a need to create awareness among the rural people about utilisation of works.

“The district officials have distributed more than seven lakh job cards to wage seekers in the district under NREGS, but less than 20,000 job card holders are utilising it,” he said.

Rama Krishna also stated that some middlemen have sent daily wagers to other areas, where they can earn more than Rs.400 daily.

“No one can survive with an amount like Rs.100 from MNREGS. This is the main reason for labour migration,” Rama Krishna added.