Sharp fall in MGNREGS workers in Kerala

The after results of the COVID-19-induced lockdown are additionally being mirrored in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) work websites with a drastic fall in the variety of workers over the previous few weeks. Though there’s a comparative discount in the variety of workers in the preliminary months of the monetary 12 months, the present fall can be as a result of pandemic-related fears in addition to the lockdown. Along with restrictions in different sectors, the State Government had imposed restrictions on the variety of workers allowed per work web site, to make sure bodily distancing norms. Only a most of 5 workers are actually allowed to come back collectively at a worksite.

“Over the past week, the average number of workers per day in the state is around 13,000. During the peak seasons, the average daily attendance goes up to 4 lakhs, while in the normal periods, it is around 2 to 2.5 lakhs. Usually, there is a drop in the numbers at the beginning of the financial year, as the whole year is remaining for the completion of hundred job days. However, this drastic fall is owing to the second wave of the pandemic, as there is COVID-19 spread in the rural areas and quite a few are concerned about contacting the virus in worksites,” an official of the MGNREGS state mission informed The Puucho.

Considering the restriction on the variety of workers per web site, solely smaller works, particularly these for particular person beneficiaries, are being taken up. The MGNREGS works have been fully stopped in the course of the lockdown imposed in March final 12 months in the course of the first wave of COVID-19. However, when the works have been restarted, there was a significant surge in demand for jobs, as many who had misplaced their jobs in different sectors turned as much as apply for job playing cards.

Earlier this 12 months, the Union Ministry of Rural Development determined to reinforce the allocation of jobs for Kerala for the monetary 12 months 2021-22 to 10 crore particular person days from the 8 crore particular person days final 12 months. This was the primary time that 10 lakh particular person days of labor was accepted for the state. In the earlier monetary 12 months, 2.2 lakh job playing cards have been issued in Kerala, a lot above the brand new job card numbers in standard years. In the previous 12 months, the MGNREGS state mission additionally shifted focus in direction of creation of sturdy belongings beneath the scheme with the creation of hundreds of irrigation ponds and wells, cattle-sheds, buildings for anganwadis, compound partitions for faculties and village roads.