Dumka: Only 3% of total registered rural job card holders in the district have availed work under MNREGA, a week after the lockdown was relaxed. The remaining workers are reportedly scared to take up the work due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
According to official data issued by the district administration, out of 1.49 lakh MNREGA job card holders across 206 villages in 10 blocks of Dumka, only 4,618 have turned up for jobs till April 28.
Dumka DDC Shekhar Jamuar said, “There are few takers of the job opportunities even though we are trying our best to encourage people to minimise rural distress. We have begun MNREGA work in 195 out of total 206 village panchayats in the district and efforts are on to cover rest.”
He said the low turnout could be because of the Covid-19 pandemic scare. Jamuar added that fear of losing government relief aid also add to the slow pace of work. However, steps are being taken to motivate the rural workers and reactivate the MNREGA activities by following social distancing and lockdown other norms, the DDC said.
He said, “It is true that there is rural distress due to the lockdown and halt in economic activities, forcing the government to take up relief measures on a large scale. But the other side to it is the fear of losing access to the free aid. Hence, many in rural areas are unwilling to take up jobs. However, we are hopeful that the pace will pick up soon.”
The rural pockets, particularly in tribal-dominated villages, have taken up strict implementation of lockdown by self-isolating their hamlets with barricades at entrances to prevent entry of people from outside.
According to official data issued by the district administration, out of 1.49 lakh MNREGA job card holders across 206 villages in 10 blocks of Dumka, only 4,618 have turned up for jobs till April 28.
Dumka DDC Shekhar Jamuar said, “There are few takers of the job opportunities even though we are trying our best to encourage people to minimise rural distress. We have begun MNREGA work in 195 out of total 206 village panchayats in the district and efforts are on to cover rest.”
He said the low turnout could be because of the Covid-19 pandemic scare. Jamuar added that fear of losing government relief aid also add to the slow pace of work. However, steps are being taken to motivate the rural workers and reactivate the MNREGA activities by following social distancing and lockdown other norms, the DDC said.
He said, “It is true that there is rural distress due to the lockdown and halt in economic activities, forcing the government to take up relief measures on a large scale. But the other side to it is the fear of losing access to the free aid. Hence, many in rural areas are unwilling to take up jobs. However, we are hopeful that the pace will pick up soon.”
The rural pockets, particularly in tribal-dominated villages, have taken up strict implementation of lockdown by self-isolating their hamlets with barricades at entrances to prevent entry of people from outside.
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