Imphal, September 04, 2009: With most of the post offices in the hill districts of the State in a state of comatose, the Government of India's instruction to pay NREGS wages to card-holders through the post office has come a cropper.

Talking to The Sangai Express through telephone, Deputy Commissioners of Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel districts conceded that the authority is still unable to pay NREGS wages to card holders through post offices.

The Deputy Commissioners said that most of the post offices located at far off places in the hill districts are non-functional and under-staffed.

These post offices will not be in a position to handle the huge amount of money, in case NREGS wages, are to be distributed through them.

As such, NREGS wages were given to village chiefs either as cash or cheque for further distribution to the workers.

This arrangement, however, entailed several difficulties due to lack of proper banking facilities in all the hill districts except Senapati.

Often similar difficulties were encountered while implementing other Govt schemes, they said.

In addition to intimating the Govt on the difficulties of the district administration in written, post offices have also been informed about the problems, they conveyed.

Churachandpur : There are 60 post offices in Churachandpur district.

But other than Saikot, Sivang and Tuibong branches, all other branches are non-functional.

Even if the necessary amount is deposited at Head Post Office, Imphal for distribution of NREGS wages through these three functional post offices, payment of wages was done in a very sluggish manner.

The district administration has despatched strongly worded letters to these post offices for prompt payment of wages.

Out of 50,000 NREGS workers in Churachandpur district, 25,000 have opened their bank accounts and received their wages through banks.

But the remaining half were given wages either in cash or cheques, as there is no banking or post office facility.

Senapati : In Senapati district, NREGS workers are not paid their wages through post offices as most of the post offices are understaffed.

The post offices also do not have the capability to physically handle the large amount of NREGS fund.

Ukhrul : Although 3600 job card holders residing in Ukhrul district headquarters have accounts in post office, for other NREGS workers not staying at the district headquarters, the authority is not in a position to pay wages through post offices because of security reasons.

The NREGS workers as well as the authority have been facing great inconveniences as there is only one bank in the entire district.

Tamenglong : Neither post offices nor banks are of any help to the NREGS workers in this district.

Chandel : Excepting district headquarters, neither post offices nor bank are functional in Chandel district.

As such, NREGS wages are paid in cash through village authorities.

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