Centre asks states to pay wages to NREGA workers on time

New Delhi, Sep 23 (ANI): Union Rural Development Ministry on Wednesday asked the State Governments to ensure timely payment to the workers under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA).

The ministry's request came after receiving of complaints over non-payment of wages by the state government officials under the NREGA scheme from various parts of the country.

Ministry has asked the Chief Secretaries of the states to remove bottlenecks for ensuring timely payment to the beneficiaries.

It has also asked them to inform about the remedial measures taken by states to ensure timely payment of wages to NREGA workers.

According to the ministry sources, it has enhanced the limit of allocation on administrative expenditure from four per cent to six per cent to ensure speedy distribution of wages and was in regular touch with the Ministry of Finance.

As per the NREG Act, payment of wages to the workers under this scheme should be paid within 15 days of the completion of work and in case, it is delayed, the state government concerned will have to pay compensation to the worker in accordance with Payment of Wages Act, 1936.

In some cases, the payment of wages were delayed due to faulty handling of muster rolls and shortage of staff at block and Gram panchayat, sources added.

According to the new guidelines the NREGA workers are now being paid through their bank or post office accounts, but the officials felt that some times the time taken in completing the transactions also results in the delay of payment. (ANI)