KHAMMAM: As the job crisis rages unabated across Telangana, demand for jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has risen dramatically in the past few years.
This election season however, the otherwise advantageous model code of conduct (MCC) seems to cast a dark shadow on the prospects of NREGS job card holders in erstwhile Khammam district. With the code disallowing the preparation of new proposals under the scheme, reports claim that more than 4 lakh job card holders were left to fend for themselves in the last one month.
As per the regular process, the village officials prepare proposals, review and approve them during the gram sabha meets, and subsequently take up the works. But as per the code, the officials are currently neither allowed to hold the gram sabha meets for the approval of proposals nor prepare new proposals.
“The code has now delayed the entire process,” says K Raju, a job card holder in Wyra. “We do not have jobs or food to feed our families. The officials keep saying that they can’t help us with the code of conduct in force.”
In addition, the villagers as well as their representatives are now unaware of the irregularities, if any, found under the scheme.
A social audit into its workings are usually held in the presence of villagers. However, the election norms ensure that the audit is now ‘internal’, conducted entirely within the offices, without the denizens being informed of the proceedings or the findings. According to officials, works estimated to cost up to110 crore and 90 crore were taken up in Khammam and Bhadradrikothagudem respectively.
“Our hands are tied until the model code of conduct is lifted. I know many villagers are suffering due to it, but there is nothing we can do. However, we have been planning proposals for Khammam and Bhadradrikothagudem with estimated costs at 250 crore and 120 crore respectively,” said an NREGS official.