4 lakh EGS jobs available, few sanctioned

There has been an exodus of locals from drought hit-areas to cities due to lack of agricultural jobs. This, in spite of the fact that 4.14 lakh jobs are available in the state under the government’s employment guarantee scheme, according to the relief and rehabilitation department’s data. The department has blamed its tehsildars for not helping people to get these jobs, which is forcing many to migrate to cities to take up menial work, but activists claim that the government machinery is reluctant to help people.

As per the latest information obtained from relief and rehabilitation department, “4,14,624 jobs are available under the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme in 3.14,042 villages. Aurangabad district, which is badly hit by the drought, has the highest number of jobs — 1.1 lakh — available,” the information revealed.

An official from the department admitted that the jobs were available for the people. “It is true that jobs are available under the EGS but we are not finding any demand from the people. Tehsildars should sanction the jobs to ensure that there is no migration from villages. We do not have exact data on the number of villages that have demanded jobs. But at the same time we are seeing migrations, which implies need for work,” the official said.

Jayaji Suryavanshi, an activist from Aurangabad, said that the people have been demanding jobs but local officers were not sanctioning them. “Farmers have no means of earning. The EGS is the only option they have left, but tehsildars are not sanctioning jobs. Also, the government should have included jobs related to the Jalyukta Shivar Scheme in the EGS, but there is so much corruption that contractors are being given the work instead of the people,” he said.

The Congress has claimed the government is powerless against the bureaucracy. “The government has no control over its officers. How can officers not sanction jobs under the EGS when the people are demanding them The government is insensitive towards the drought-stricken masses. In fact, it should have allotted the EGS more funds,” said Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant.