TURA: The job card holders under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from around eight blocks in West Garo Hills have revealed that they are yet to receive their dues for work done in 2013 despite the year coming to an end.
In a statement issued here on Friday, the villagers expressed despair as they looked for ways and means to provide for their families and children during the cold winter months not to mention the preparations for the upcoming Christmas festival. According to the villagers, the presidents and secretaries of different blocks of the district have been making repeated visits to the BDOs of concerned blocks requesting for the payment of their long pending dues but have been told time and again that the funds had not yet been received at the block.
The villagers also questioned the whole purpose of the MGNREGS Act and demanded to know the reason for the delay and the details of authorities responsible for the situation.
“What is the purpose of having an MGNREGS Act if they cannot pay us our dues even by the end of the year,” the villagers asked.
Meanwhile, finding no other alternative to address their grievances the villagers have appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of the district to look into the matter and make some kind of arrangement for the payment of their long pending dues which would be handy to them in this festive season.