– Raheem Khan
Jaipur: Around 400 labourers from Rajasthan Unorganised Workers Union (RUWU) have been protesting since June 12, 2024, due to the failure of Gram Panchayat Badnor to provide employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Despite their applications for work, the gram panchayat has not offered any employment opportunities.
Under Section 7(1) of MGNREGA Act, individuals are entitled to unemployment allowance if work is not provided. The state government has also established rules for this. However, despite applying for the unemployment allowance on August 14, 2024, the Development Officer of Panchayat Samiti Badnor has yet to take any action.
On Tuesday, the workers organised a one-day protest outside the Panchayat Samiti in Badnor, demanding immediate payment of unemployment allowance. Initially, the Development Officer avoided addressing the issue but later assured the labourers that both work and unemployment allowance would be provided.
The workers’ demands include immediate issuance of orders to begin the unemployment allowance for all 400 laborers, payment of unemployment allowance for 150 days to all labourers, and disciplinary action against officials who have violated the MGNREGA Act.
Mukesh Nirvasit from RUWU alleged that genuine MGNREGA work is not being provided in Rajasthan, where people are eager to work. He also claimed that in many areas, payments are being made without actual work being done due to corruption and collusion among officials.
The workers in Badnor Gram Panchayat have been deprived of both work and unemployment allowance for five months, prompting protests and demands for immediate action. The union has called for disciplinary measures against officials and raised concerns about corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA. The Development Officer has assured that the workers’ demands will be addressed.
