MGNREGS labourers complain of non-receipt of wages

Under the scheme, 334 labourers have alleged that they have not received wages though six months have passed since the work got over

Many labourers engaged under the centrally-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Odisha's Koraput district alleged that 334 of them have not received wages though six months have passed since the work got over.

The labourers from Podai Khodra, Joba, Bagkhodra and Golariguda villages under Boipariguda block's Kathpada panchayat constructed an 8 km road between Mantriambo and Joba. The road work was completed in November 2013.

"Each labourer had worked for 30 to 40 days. We have approached the officials at the panchayat and the block office for our wages many times but in vain. Never had we got any satisfactory answer from the officials concerned. We are leading a miserable life without our wages," alleged Gopi Khillo, a labourer from Joba village, who along with others had come to the block office on Tuesday to air his grievance.

"If our wages are not paid at the earliest then we may block the block office," he added.

The job scheme guarantees 100 days of employment to every household in a year and labourers are supposed to be paid within seven days of completion of work.

Officials at the block office said as the wages are being paid to labourers' through post-offices there is a delay because the process is lengthy.

"We have deposited the wages in the post office and there might have been some delay. I will look into it and take necessary action," said block development officer (Boipariguda), Subash Chandra Singh.