CHENNAI: More than 82.67 lakh active workers of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in Tamil Nadu will heave a sigh of relief as the state government on Thursday passed an order allowing resumption of work under the scheme with certain riders.
The scheme was a safety net for more than 60 lakh women in the state.
Chief secretary K Shanmugam issued an order, following a proposal from the revenue and disaster management department, allowing resumption of work related to irrigation and water conservation.
However, work should not be taken up in Covid-19 containment zones and red blocks, Shanmugam said in the order.
“It should be subjected to the condition that the workers are provided with masks and not more than one third of the required number of labourers are mobilised,” said the CS in the order. Strict physically distancing guidelines should be followed.
Authorities said 56 types of agriculture and allied work would be taken up as per the guidelines. “We will allow five to 10 workers at each worksite. The district administration and local administration will supply masks and ensure that the labourers follow social distancing,” said a senior official.
The government recently enhanced the wage of MGNREGA workers from Rs 229 to Rs 256.
The scheme was a safety net for more than 60 lakh women in the state.
Chief secretary K Shanmugam issued an order, following a proposal from the revenue and disaster management department, allowing resumption of work related to irrigation and water conservation.
However, work should not be taken up in Covid-19 containment zones and red blocks, Shanmugam said in the order.
“It should be subjected to the condition that the workers are provided with masks and not more than one third of the required number of labourers are mobilised,” said the CS in the order. Strict physically distancing guidelines should be followed.
Authorities said 56 types of agriculture and allied work would be taken up as per the guidelines. “We will allow five to 10 workers at each worksite. The district administration and local administration will supply masks and ensure that the labourers follow social distancing,” said a senior official.
The government recently enhanced the wage of MGNREGA workers from Rs 229 to Rs 256.
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