Hyderabad: Congress leaders have criticised both the Central and the state governments for erratic implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in the state.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a five-day training programme for organising informal agricultural workers conducted by the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in collaborati-on with the International Trade Unions’ Con-federation (ITUC) at Dr. G.S.R. Institute of Labour Studies and Research in Hyderabad on Monday, PCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that rural employment scheme was a well thought one which provides Right to Work to the poorest of poor citizens in rural areas.
He said the Central government, headed by Narendra Modi and the NDA, had been diluting the scheme by delaying payments to the MGNREGS workers. He added that the TRS government in the state has been killing the actual purpose of the scheme.
Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said that contrary to the claims of being the richest state in the country, the TRS government has not cleared the payments of MGNREGS workers for the last several months.
INTUC national president Dr. G. Sanjeeva Reddy explained the reasons for launching the initiative to organise the agricultural workers. He said that those living in villages must realise the power of organisation which would guarantee them economic and political empowerment.
AICC secretary R.C. Khuntia said the BJP government has been trying to curb the activities and rights of trade unions to promote a select few companies. He said that in a population of over 125 crore, only five crore people fall in the category of organised workers.
Mr Khuntia said that these numbers were on a decline due to measures like cost cutting and other lay offs. He said there was an urgent need to mobilise the workers in unorganised sectors.
