'TP working 'overtime' for MGNREGS contractors'

Indefinite dharna seeking proper impelementation enters sixth day

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, V Geetha of the Sanghatane said that contractors and middlemen could be found near the houses of Gram Panchayat secretary, engineers and executive officer during night. The computer operators too work after office hours to facilitate the contractors while “computer problem” is being cited whenever labourers demand payment of wages, she alleged.

Geeta said that women have been camping in the taluk office premises for the past six days staging dharna for proper implementation of the employment generation scheme. The Taluk Panchayat, Zilla Panchayat and district administration have not responded positively so far. Dharnas were staged earlier in front of the Zilla Panchayat office and Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The labourers depending on the wages for their livelihood are finding it hard to maintain themselves. Contractors’ bills should be withheld and the arrears of wages should be paid. A sum of Rs 45 lakh is to be disbursed as arrears of wages to 1,500 workers in Kolar taluk alone. The authorities, concerned, however are delaying to pay the arrears, she alleged and warned that the struggle will be intensified from Monday onwards. People from two villages of the taluk are taking part in the dharna on rotation, she said.

The members of Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha, Karnataka Prantha Agricultural Labourers Association, Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, Democratic Youths Federation of India, Centre of Indian Trade Unions and other organisations are taking part in the dharna.