Dimapur, Dec. 13: Demanding release of the wages of MGNREGA workers held up in the State Bank of India branches across Nagaland by December 20, the Nagaland State Village Development Boards Association warned that it would be forced to resort to any means of agitation including indefinite closure of all banks concerned in the State if its demand is not met.
In a representation to the Assistant General Manager, SBI, RBO Dimapur, Thangboi Lunkim, vice president of the association Dr Imtinungba and general secretary Manthungo Kikon, on behalf of the affected MGNREGA job card holders, stated that the State Government has already released the MGNREGA fund for payment to the workers and the department of Rural Development has since credited the fund in the respective VDB for payment to the workers. However, the SBI branches have withheld the fund citing demonetisation and refused to release the same, the representation said.
The association said all the village development boards in the State have executed works through job card holders who are demanding payment of the their wages which are held up in SBI branches.
The representation also stated that unlike other parts of the country, Nagaland is still following the old system whereby the VDBs draw the MGNREGA money from their account and make payment to the job card holders as per the works done by them. But due to non release of the money by the banks, there has been a direct impact on the livelihood of job card holders, especially at the time of festive season. Non release of the money to all VDBs in the State will lead to serious repercussions, it warned.
The representation also mentioned that the Nagaland State VDB Association cannot remain a mute spectator to the plight of the lakhs of poor villagers who have been deprived of their hard earned wages for their livelihood. The association appealed to the AGM, SBI to intervene in the matter and release the money without any further delay in the interest of the poor villagers.
The association has informed that AGM has assured to extend all possible help for early release of the money.
There are 1238 VDB villages and a total of 4,25,000 MGNREGA job card holders in Nagaland.
Pointing out that a provision was made for special release of fund for Hornbill Festival and cash payment of salary to the police personnel and also to the pensioners, the association demanded that some alternative must be worked out in the case of MGNREGA job card holders otherwise the poor villagers will not be able to celebrate Christmas.
