Concern voiced in LS over non-payment of MGNREGA wages

Non-payment of wages since May has acutely increased migration of rural poor to urban areas, says Congress

A Congress member today complained that non-payment of MGNREGA wages since May has acutely increased migration of rural poor to urban areas and wanted government to immediately intervene to arrest the trend.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Ranjit Ranjan said that the gravity of the problem could be guaged from the fact that from the Kosi range of Bihar, as many as four lakh rural poor have migrated in search of livelihood.

Earlier the migration used to be less than 50,000, she said, making a strong plea for making available funds to the state for implementation of the rural job guarantee scheme.

Ravneet Singh, also of the Congress, made a strong plea for more funds under the National Rabies Control Programme contending that India ranked the highest in deaths due to dog bites.

He said as many as 30,000 people die annually because of rabies and 35 per cent of them were from India.

Vinayak Baburao Raut (Shiv Sena) demanded expeditious steps to change the name of Bombay High Court to Mumbai High Court before the upcoming Republic Day.

He said the issue was being raised since 2008 and the Maharashtra government has been writing to the Centre to implement it. Earlier, the Chief Minister had also met the Union Law Minister but no step was taken.

P P Mohammed Faizal (Cong) asked the government to expedite scholarships for students and children residing in Lakshadweep, saying these were being "unduly delayed not because of paucity of funds but due to administrative laxity."

The entire population of the island territory was categorised as scheduled tribe and all students were eligible for free education and scholarships which were being "inordinately delayed", he said.