Poor progress under NREGS lamented

Speaking at Janasapanada, a programme to take administration to doorsteps at Kannappanahalli in the taluk on Saturday, the EO said that the works under NREGS are not being undertaken at the expected level since people are not evincing any interest. “While the previous proposal exceeds Rs 80 lakh, works worth Rs 48 lakh only have been carried out till now,” he lamented.

While the labourers get Rs 150 per day from private persons, the government has fixed only Rs 85 as wages under NREGS. This has become a major hindrance for people not coming to work under the scheme.

Wage rate

“It is not the intention of the government to save money by fixing lower wages. It would well have have fixed the wage at Rs 150. The objective is to implement the projects with the active involvement of local people,” he said remarking that the people may have to answer the future generation for lack of infrastructure.

Disclosing that one can work for 100 days under NREGS, he said that people can carry out the work for their needs as well. The government pays the money even if the beneficiaries grow plants in front of their houses or in their lands, he stated.

Tahsildar Reshma gave information on the various welfare programmes introduced by the government. Taluk Panchayat president Saraswathamma, Zilla Panchayat member Thammanna and officers from Agriculture, Horticulture, Public Works and Forest Departments were present on the occasion.

Far from truth

The Assistant Engineer of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company city sub-division, Venkateshappa, has clarified that there is no truth in the allegation that money has been demanded for installing transformers in some villages of the taluk. He has said that no such complaints have been received so far and action will be initiated against any employee of the Company, if found guilty of demanding money. He has asked the farmers to come with documents, if any,  for having paid money