3 days ago
Rural Job Demand Rises as Chittoor Wages Remain Delayed
More people in Chittoor are seeking work through the rural employment scheme than at the same time last year.
But workers are still waiting for wages for work done since September 1.
The unpaid wages are estimated at about ₹30 crore.
The new VB-G RAM G system replaced the earlier MGNREGS system in July.
Its rules call for workers to be paid weekly or within two weeks.
Officials said technical and processing changes have slowed some payments.
They have uploaded payment orders, which are waiting for clearance through a central government system.
An official said clearance could take two to three weeks after the orders are uploaded.
The report also says weak kharif cultivation linked to El Niño has led more rural households to rely on the scheme.
Chittoor workers are awaiting about ₹30 crore in wages for work done since September 1.
Daily attendance rose to 25,000–26,000 workers, compared with 12,000–15,000 during the same period last year.
The VB-G RAM G scheme replaced MGNREGS in July and provides for weekly pay or payment within a fortnight.
Officials cited technical and processing changes under the revised system; payment orders are awaiting clearance through the Centre’s SNA SPARSH system.
District figures report 57,000 families and 77,000 workers employed, 15.3 lakh workdays generated, and 2.24 lakh job cards.
- Who
- Rural workers and families enrolled in the employment scheme in Chittoor district.
- What
- Around ₹30 crore in wages for work since September 1 remains pending.
- Where
- Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.
- When
- The affected work dates from September 1; the reports describe the delay as about four weeks or more than a month.
- Why
- Officials attributed the delay to technical and processing changes under the revised scheme and pending clearance through the Centre’s SNA SPARSH system; increased demand was also linked in one report to weak kharif cultivation amid El Niño conditions.
Workers and scheme expectations
Officials’ explanation
Wage payment delay
Workers and scheme expectations
Workers are waiting for wages despite the new framework’s provision for weekly payments or payment within a fortnight.
Officials’ explanation
Officials said payment orders for wages due since September 1 were uploaded and are awaiting clearance through the SNA SPARSH financial system.
Why processing has been affected
Workers and scheme expectations
The delay has left workers without timely payment while attendance and demand for employment have increased.
Officials’ explanation
Officials attributed difficulties in some areas to technical changes and the shift from annual labour budgets to monthly employment targets.
Key facts
- Estimated pending wage payments
- Around ₹30 crore
- Work period with unpaid wages
- Since September 1
- Recent daily attendance
- Around 25,000–26,000 workers
- Attendance in the same period last year
- Around 12,000–15,000 workers
- Employment reported
- Around 57,000 families, involving 77,000 workers
- Workdays generated
- 15.3 lakh
- Other pending amount
- ₹88 crore for the material component of works taken up last year, according to one report
- Expected clearance time
- Around two to three weeks after fund transfer orders are uploaded, according to a district official
Sources
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