In Maharashtra, nearly 10 lakh households have demanded employment in past two months under the scheme. Of them, only 6.6 lakh households were provided with the jobs which means nearly 33% of shortfall, say statistics.
Farmers and farm labourers of Maharashtra's perennially drought-affected districts are not only facing unprecedented water crisis which has led to damage of crops and huge debts, but they are also finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihood. Reason: they are not able to get even 100 days of employment in a year as guaranteed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) 2005.
The data gathered from the MNREGA website reveals a whopping 40-60% gap in the demand and supply of the employment under the Centre's ambitious scheme in the month of April-May across the Marathwada region. While Parbhani appears to be worst among eight districts facing a shortfall of 66% in the NAREGA employment, Nanded's shortage is close to 60%, reveals the data.
In Maharashtra, nearly 10 lakh households have demanded employment in past two months under the scheme. Of them, only 6.6 lakh households were provided with the jobs which means nearly 33% of shortfall, say statistics.
The MGNREG Act 2005 provides at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Huge gap in the demand and supply of the NREGA work is leading to huge distress migration of rural population towards cities, say experts. They also blame Devendra Fadnavis led-BJP government for their lax approach towards poor farm labours and mismanagment of the NREGA.
"The government seems to be unaware of this serious issue. The NREGA work is not being taken up where it is needed the most. The skewed livelihood opportunities are forcing poor population to migrate towards cities," says Mahesh Raut, a social activist who works for tribals.
Most of the migrant people have no other option but to live on footpaths or urban slums and do menial jobs to sustain themselves in the cities. "While this may help them for the time being, they are subjected to lifetime poverty.
Such distress migration not only affects the migrants especially the women and kids but also puts tremendous pressure on urban infrastructure," says a professor from Mumbai University.
Dr Ashok Dhawale, the state general secretary of the Communist Party of India (M) said, "The government must provide jobs in the Marathwada region on a war footing. At present works, are not being taken up at a desired level, which is a serious matter leading to distress migration of the poor."
He also sought a hike in wages. "The government currently offers Rs160 per day, which is much less compared to the market. Moreover, workers are not given full wages, which adds to their woes."
Pankaja Munde Palwe, the minister for the rural development department, could not be reached for comments.
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