हिंदी
The current MGNREGA wage rate is Rs. 303/- per day in Punjab, which is considerably lower than the neighboring states, points out the AAP MP
Punjab has an unskilled agricultural labor wage rate of Rs. 412.95 per day which is significantly higher than the wage rate offered under MGNREGA: Sanjeev Arora
Such disparity creates inequality among workers and also undermines the dignity of labor, says AAP leader
Bhagwant Mann has also raised this issue in the past, said, our government is doing more work under MGNREGA but the centre is treating our labourers with disparity
Chandigarh/New Delhi, February 5, 2024
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Sanjeev Arora raised a very significant issue concerning the wage rate notified under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the state of Punjab.
The current wage rate of Rs. 303/- per day for unskilled labor under MGNREGA in Punjab is considerably lower than the neighboring state of Haryana, where the wage rate stands at Rs. 357/- per day. He added that the Punjab State Labour Department has notified an unskilled agricultural labor wage rate of Rs. 412.95 per day which is significantly higher than the wage rate offered under MGNREGA.
He said that this kind of disparity creates inequality among workers and also undermines the dignity of labor and the intent of the MGNREGA program. He pointed out that the annual funds released under MNREGA have gone down in 2022-23 as compared to previous years, rather this amount ideally should have increased keeping in view the inflation.
This issue has been raised by the Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann in the past also where he said that our government is getting more works done under the MGNREGA scheme but the centre is treating our labourers with disparity. He said that three times more work of repair of canals and water channels is being executed under MGNREGA in 2023-24 (Rs. 228 crore) as compared to year 2020-21 (Rs. 77 crore).
Sanjeev Arora requested the Government’s intervention in the matter and asked to reevaluate the current wage rate for Punjab under MGNREGA. He added that it is imperative that the wage rate is increased to bring it at par with either the neighboring state of Haryana or the wage rates set by the Punjab State Labour Department.
