Senior Congress leader and sitting MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori today slammed the Centre Government for “failing” to release over Rs 150 crore MGNREGA payments to the State Government, which it alleged has adversely affected the poor families in J&K state.“The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Government at Centre has failed to clear over Rs 150 crore MGNREGA payments to the State Government including Rs 56 crores liabilities of Erstwhile district Doda” Saroori told reporters at JammuHe questioned BJP’s silence on issues related to the Laborers and alleged that the Union Government has “failed” to clear MGNREGA payment despite submission of necessary documents.
“Before Lok Sabha elections all senior leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visits to Jammu in his campaigns had raised the issue several times but it is surprising that after May 26 they have turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the problems being faced by the rural people,” he said.Saroori said that the department of rural development is also liable to pay compensation for delay in wages as per guidelines issued by the ministry of rural development.
He (Saroori) also blamed the state government and saying that the government already had Rs 30 crores balance regarding MGNREGA work and despite that, the delay was a cruel joke with people who were living hand-to-mouth and had been provided livelihood security through MGNREGA by the UPA government at the Centre.“The Union government has snatched the means of survival from families of poor workers,” added Saroori, demanding immediate release of wages along with compensation, failing which an agitation would be launched.