Ganesh Sarkar
Port Blair, Jan 18: The existence of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Hut Bay, South Andaman is being questioned due to unprecedented fund crunch and sharp drop of employment. The rural employment generation scheme, which till recent time was one major source of employment for the rural residents of Hut Bay, is currently facing acute shortage of funds leading to a sharp fall in employment in the region.
According to reports, the MNREGA scheme implemented in the Hut Bay region was an easy job opportunity for the poor rural population as it secured 100 days of guaranteed employment in a year. But since the last one year, not a single job opportunity has been generated by the Hut Bay panchayat under the scheme.
“Growing unemployment has become a major concern for the residents of Hut Bay today. Under the MNREGA scheme, several villagers from different parts of the region were employed by the Hut Bay Panchayat for various rural projects. The guaranteed 100 day employment in a year under the scheme was a boon for villagers and was instrumental in addressing the unemployment issue in the region to a great extent. But complete stop of employment opportunity under the scheme has created huge resentment among the people here,” lamented several villagers of Hut Bay.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Pradhan, Hut Bay, Smt Geeta Rao clarified that shortage of funds with the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is the only reason for the MNREGA stalemate in Hut Bay. “People think that Hut Bay Panchayat is not doing its job but fact is that we don’t have fund under MNREGA. The issue was raised with the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman as also with the Tehsildar on several occasions. But till date Hut Bay Panchayat is awaiting release of funds to carry out rural works under the scheme here,” she added.
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