SHILLONG: The North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to increase the weekly income support of farmers from Rs 1,000 to at least Rs 1,500.
In a letter to the chief minister, NESFAS said they have been trying to facilitate farmers who are also daily wage labourers to apply for compensation of wage loss through the scheme of the Department of Labour.
The NGO said many would not benefit from this scheme as many daily wage earners in the community have already registered with the MGNREGS.
According to NESFAS, the persons who are registered under MGNREGS should be eligible to apply, besides the weekly income support of Rs 1,000 should be increased to at least Rs 1,500 (assuming Rs 300 as the figure which is still lower than minimum wage of Rs 324 as prescribed by the state government for unskilled labour).
It also stated that members in the household who do not have a bank account should be entitled for the benefits and this can be done by transferring the amount to those in the family who have a bank account or direct benefit transfer through the Rangbah Shnong.
“Members of newly formed households who do not have a job card should also get the benefits by getting the name of such individuals from the Rangbah Shnong,” the letter said while adding that there should be No delays in the release of the benefits intended for the beneficiaries.
