Rights groups criticise Govt
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
New Delhi, October 08 2014:
Human rights groups today criticised the government for undermining the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and demanded that it should not try to amend the law.
Several activists of human rights organisations under the banner of People's Action for Employment Gurarantee deplored government's move to change the labour material ratio to 51:49 from the existing ratio of 60:40, as well as the attempt to restrict the act to one-third of all blocks.
"The Rural Development ministry officials themselves have pointed out the disastrous simpact of changing the labour material ratio from 60:40 to 51:49 citing that will result in sharp fall of 40 per cent in employment generated and will adversely affect 5 crores households.
"They also warn that this will bring in 'benami contractors' and corruption and will lead to ultimate deterioration of the people," said Nikhil Dey, an activist.
Aruna Roy, a Right to Information (RTI) activist and leader of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), said that there are reports indicating government's move to reduce MGNREGA to one-third of the blocks, which will kill the act and reduce it to a complete manipulable device and adversely affect the two-third of the country.