The order of the Supreme Court to hike the wages of people employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is appreciable, said G C Bayya Reddy, secretary of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha.
“The minimum wages, according to the order, will now be Rs 150. The Central Government had appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the order of the High Court that also set the wage at Rs 150. The Supreme Court, however, has upheld the order of the High Court,” said Reddy, addressing a press conference in the City on Monday.
He called this a victory for various organisations who had demanded a hike in the wages.
Arrear payment
Reddy demanded that the arrears be paid to workers who had been employed under the Scheme in the district in 2009-10. “Some of the panchayats have not paid the arrears for even 2010-11. If they fail to pay the wages, we will stage a protest outside the Zilla Panchayat on April 25,” he warned.
“Since the district has been declared drought-affected, workers employed under the MGNREGS should be provided work for 100 days in addition to the current 100-day job. Applicants who have submitted Form 6 should be provided employment immediately,” he demanded.
