A different peak: 7L line up for Rs 238 a day under MNREGA in Maharashtra

Nagpur: Workers taking up MNREGA jobs have touched a record high this year in the state. Over 7.04 lakh workers attended the employment guarantee works throughout the state between May and June first week.
At present, more than half of workers engaged in MNREGA jobs throughout the state are in Vidarbha, which includes Amravati and Nagpur divisions.
For the state, this was 57% increase as against the numbers in the same period last year.In absolute terms, the workers employed under MNREGA were 2.58 lakh more than those engaged last year till June 8, after which the figures receded. MNREGA workers get Rs 238 a day as against Rs 300 to Rs 400 elsewhere.
Sources said the peak employment has increased all over the country. In comparison to rest of the states, Maharashtra still remains slightly behind at 57% growth against an average growth of 60% elsewhere. The phenomenon is being attributed to the reverse migration due to Covid outbreak and the lockdown. Though officials in state’s employment guarantee scheme (EGS) department say it cannot be concluded to be so as yet.
The highest employment in terms of talukas has been in Chikhaldara in Melghat region of Amravati district. Here, 22,526 persons were employed under various works. This is followed by Dharni, also in Melghat, where 22,388 persons have taken up the MNREGA jobs. Both the areas had seen heavy influx of persons back from cities after Covid-19 outbreak. The Melghat hills — a tribal area — have disrepute of poor agriculture and malnutrition.
The state’s MNREGA commissioner ASR Naik said, “Even if Covid can be expected to be one of the reasons, the pandemic appears to have also deterred workers from coming out to work in some districts where numbers are abysmally low. However, the numbers can said to be an all-time high.”
Naik said the department has also started direct monitoring of works and nearly 100 workers are being reached out each day and their grievances are heard.
Gondia has recorded the highest number at 88,262 persons employed at present. However, districts like Bhandara and Gondia have traditionally attracted higher number of labourers for MNREGA work, said sources in the department. The numbers cannot be exactly attributed to reverse migration.
At the same time certain other districts have also seen a major jump, as against the earlier levels.
There are certain districts where the numbers are negligible. For example, in Raigad district only 478 workers turned up for MNREGA work. In Pune, it was 865. If Bhandara was second highest, next door Nagpur had only 7,606 workers taking up the MNREGA jobs. In Washim, it was 2,200 odd.
The high of over 7 lakh was maintained till June 8, after which a drop was seen. As on June 11, over 5.33 lakh were employed under the scheme. This is still 20% higher than the same period last year. The numbers are expected to have gone down because the number of works have reduced due to monsoon and also that workers have returned to farming, said sources. Now works on water, soil conservation and horticulture will be taken up.
Kishore Tiwari, chairman of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM), said the high number of MNREGA workers reflects economic crisis due to reverse migration.
(in a nutshell)
Wages under MNREGA | Rs238 a day
Total workers in state on June 11 | 5.33 lakh
Workers engaged in Vidarbha | 3.61 lakh
Workers in Amravati division | 91,397
Workers in Nagpur division | 2,70,362 also highest in state
Top district: Gondia, 88,262 workers
Highest employment taluka wise | Chikhaldara, 22,526 persons
Least employment | Raigad, 478