Haveri: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which plays a vital role in providing job opportunities in rural areas, has become a financial lifeline for many. However, delays in wage disbursal have left thousands of workers in distress.
Haveri district alone awaits nearly ₹16 crore in pending wages from the Union government. The scheme is designed to provide rural employment through gram panchayats, employing registered labourers with job cards for local development projects. While the daily wage was revised from ₹349 to ₹370 and is meant to be transferred directly to workers’ bank accounts, payments have been severely delayed.
Over 1.5 lakh labourers in the district are yet to receive their wages since April 17, forcing many into financial uncertainty. “We were told we’d receive our wages within 15 days. It’s been over a month, and we are struggling to make ends meet,” said Kavita Dundasi from Hirekerur taluk.
Workers like Hanumantappa Byadagi from Kadaramundalagi, who once stayed in their villages due to MGNREGA, are now contemplating migration again due to mounting costs like school fees and medical bills.
As per MGNREGA norms, wages must be paid within 15 days of work completion, with compensation due for delays. The state government is liable to pay this penalty.
Ruchi Bindal, CEO of the Haveri Zilla Panchayat, confirmed that the central government is expected to release the funds soon. “The grant should arrive within a week,” she assured.
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