<p class="title">Job cardholders, who become members of panchayats, will be denied employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), according a circular issued by the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many gram panchayat members hailing from poor families were earning their livelihood by working as labourers under MGNREGS.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Puttur taluk Sugrama Federation of elected women members of Gram Panchayat have written to the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on how the circular was a total injustice for gram panchayat members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Federation President Jaya A said, “The labourers had availed employment card in 2006-07 even prior to the implementation of MGNREGS in Dakishna Kannada. Having become gram panchayat members we are now deprived of the employment guaranteed under MGNREGS.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Members also urged chief minister to withdraw the circular and consider GP members as unskilled workers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Being identified as an unskilled worker, we will be provided with employment which will help us in eking out a living. If government cannot guarantee employment to gram panchayat members under MGNREGS, then it should fix minimum wages as honorarium for the gram panchayat members in order to lead a dignified life,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“At present, the gram panchayat members receive a honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month, which is never released on time,” a member said on the condition of anonymity.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ministry of Rural Development Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Division, in its clarification to the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, has stated that a member if involved in any work being implemented on the orders of GPs will be disqualified.</p>
<p class="title">Job cardholders, who become members of panchayats, will be denied employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), according a circular issued by the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many gram panchayat members hailing from poor families were earning their livelihood by working as labourers under MGNREGS.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Puttur taluk Sugrama Federation of elected women members of Gram Panchayat have written to the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on how the circular was a total injustice for gram panchayat members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Federation President Jaya A said, “The labourers had availed employment card in 2006-07 even prior to the implementation of MGNREGS in Dakishna Kannada. Having become gram panchayat members we are now deprived of the employment guaranteed under MGNREGS.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Members also urged chief minister to withdraw the circular and consider GP members as unskilled workers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Being identified as an unskilled worker, we will be provided with employment which will help us in eking out a living. If government cannot guarantee employment to gram panchayat members under MGNREGS, then it should fix minimum wages as honorarium for the gram panchayat members in order to lead a dignified life,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“At present, the gram panchayat members receive a honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month, which is never released on time,” a member said on the condition of anonymity.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ministry of Rural Development Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Division, in its clarification to the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, has stated that a member if involved in any work being implemented on the orders of GPs will be disqualified.</p>
