‘Guarantee employment to GP members under MGNREGS’

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.

Many gram panchayat members hailing from poor families were earning their livelihood by working as labourers under MGNREGS.

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.

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.”

Members also urged chief minister to withdraw the circular and consider GP members as unskilled workers.

“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.

“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.

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.