A plea to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) only when there are no jobs for the farm workers and also only in those areas were unemployment problem persisted was made by the representatives of farmers associations here on Friday.
They were speaking at the monthly farmers’ grievances day meeting presided over by K. Maharabushanam, Collector.
It was N. Perumal of Puliankurichi, who raked up the issue, when he said that farmers were not getting workers for the regular agricultural activities as they prefer to go for work in the projects implemented under the MNREGS. Due to this trend, the farmers are forced to pay higher wages.
He was supported by a host of farmers’ representatives. K. Sundaram of Vaiyappamalai said that the implementation of this scheme practically affected the farm activities.
The drawback of scarcity of the work force for farm activities had been raised in both Parliament and Tamil Nadu Assembly.
S. Govindaraj of Ammanpalayam and C. Vaiyapuri, president, United Farmers Association-Tamil Nadu, said that as per the norms, this scheme should be implemented only when acute unemployment problem persisted. But, officials never mind about this and provide jobs to workers even during the harvest period, creating scarcity of hands.
Mr. Govindaraj said that the implementation of the scheme should be suspended at least during the harvest season.
The Collector replied that the scheme is being implemented as per the Government norms.
He suggested that the land owners could induce the workers by paying increased wages.
Mr. Sundaram took exception to the move of the development authorities to construct anganwadis and panchayat union office over water sluices and water sources in Panaimarathupatti union. All these works should be stopped with immediate effect.
Mr. Govindaraj drew the attention of the forest department on the 30 per cent increase in the population of wild animals as per recent survey. There is every chance of animals entering the fields abutting reserve forests and destroying the crop during the summer. The department should take steps to check this by creating water facility for quenching the thirst of the animals.
As fodder of shortage is expected during the summer months, he demanded provision of fodder seeds at subsidised rates to the farmers, so that they could raise fodder for the summer months.
Mr. Vaiyapuri and Mr. Govindaraj said that the Kariakovil Reservoir, near Pappanayakkanpatti, already has 40 feet water. The water should be released into River Vasishtanadhi for farm activities and also for improving the ground water level. Due to the non-release of water for a long time, the Vasishtanadhi always posed a dry look and has lost its shape, they added.
The Collector said that he has already sent a team to Chennai to appraise the PWD authorities about this issue. The PWD has sought a detailed proposal from the district administration, which will be sent soon.
