Palghar tribals awaits payment of Rs 13.48 cr from govt

Thane, Apr 1: Over 30,000 tribals in the district have threatened to go on a protest if their payment of wages to the tunes of Rs 13.48 crore of last three months for the works done under Employment Guarantee Scheme (ESG) is not paid.

The workers, under banner of Shramajivi Sanghatana, will stage protest within next two days if the payment of wages if not made, the NGO's founder Vivek Pandit said today.

"Between January 1, 2016, and March 31, 2016, a total of 9024 works have been done under EGS scheme in the district at various locations. Wages of nearly 7.94 lakh man-days (amount of work that can be done by one person in a day) comes ot approximately Rs 13.48 crore," he said.

The government is yet to make this payment, Pandit claimed. He said the workers in the tribal-dominated district are already reeling under issues like poverty, malnutrition, child mortality, and now this non-payment of wages is only compounding their problems.

According to Pandit, the workers have also made representation to the district administration on several occasion but in vain.

An official of EGS wing, Palghar collectorate, on condition of anonimity, confirmed that the amount of Rs 13.48 crore has not been paid to workers in the district. The officer stated that they were trying to make payment online but it could not be in want of funds.

PTI