Delayed wage payment grounds playfield work

Labourers engaged in development of playfields abstain from work
MGNREGS labourers working on a playground in Sambalpur | Express
MGNREGS labourers working on a playground in Sambalpur | Express
Updated on
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SAMBALPUR:Though the district administration had planned to resume work on playgrounds under MGNREGS, which had been left halfway due to fund crunch, during the monsoon season, no headway has been made in this regard.

The administration had set a target to develop 864 playgrounds in nine blocks of the district last year. Work on development of playfields began in July 2016 and the administration had set a target to complete the work by September 2016.However, work on only 40 playfields could be completed  during the period while work on 361 playfields had to be left halfway and work on the rest 463 playfields never took off due to paucity of fund. The labourers engaged in the development of playfields abstained from work after they did not get wages for their work within the stipulated time.

Though each labourer should get his due after seven days as per the provision, an amount to the tune of about `1.5 crore was pending as wage against development of playfields in the district last year.
However, the outstanding wages were paid to the labourers and the administration decided to resume work on 339 out of 361 playfields, which had been left halfway, during the monsoon season.

Of the 339 play fields, the administration had planned to resume work on 44 playgrounds in Bamra block, 13 in Dhankauda block, 68 in Jamankira block, 27 in Jujumura block, 23 in Kuchinda block, 21 in Maneswar block, 76 in Naktideul block, 48 in Rairakhol block and 19 in Rengali block.But, the administration failed to persuade the labourers to get engaged for playfields work. Payment of delayed wage left a bitter taste among them and they preferred to stay away from the work.

The playfields development was aimed at promoting sports activities in rural areas besides providing work to hundreds of villagers under MGNREGS in the district. The development of playfield included field dressing, levelling, filling, construction of podium, installation of goal post and volleyball post on the ground besides construction of concrete benches on the periphery of the ground along with plantation and green fencing. There was proposal to develop both existing and new playfields at a cost of `3 lakh to `8 lakh for each ground.

Co-ordinator of MGNREGS, Sambalpur, Sobhit Kumar Bishi admitted that the labourers were reluctant to work due to delayed disbursement of wages which has derailed the work process. Presently, there is availability offunds and they are trying to convince the labourers to resume work, he added.

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