Kerala and Lakshadweep have been excluded from the latest wage revision of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers released on 17 March by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
While all other states and union territories have seen the least increase in the prevailing wages, the MGNREGS wage rate for unskilled laborers in Kerala will be 291 and the final year rate of Lakshadweep at ₹ 266.
According to MGNREGS state mission officials, it is unclear what parameters were considered in the wage revision process to exclude a state like Kerala, which spiraled consumer prices due to the steady increase in fuel and cooking gas prices. The impact of this has also suffered.
“We are unaware of the reasons for leaving Kerala. Wage rate revision is usually done based on the consumer price index for agricultural workers and the unskilled wage rate in the agricultural sector. The consumer price index has increased in the state this year. Kerala’s minimum wage rate in agriculture is currently at 490, but the MGNREGS wage rate set by the Center still remains at 291. We also have to consider the fact that the minimum wage in Kerala is much higher than in many other states, which is no longer reflected in MGNREGS wages, ”says the official.
Last year, there was an increase of ₹ 20 for MGNREGS laborers in Kerala along with an increase in other states. Among the states that grew this year, Meghalaya grew the highest with an increase of 23, while Rajasthan had the lowest increase of 1 1.
In the pole-bound states and union territories, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have significantly increased by 17 each, while Assam has 11 and West Bengal has 9 states. Many states have much lower wages than Kerala despite the increase. For example, the revised salary in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is 193, while in Bihar it is to 198 due to lower consumer price index.
According to the notification on the salary revision issued by the Union Rural Development Ministry, the Election Commission has not raised any objection to the wage hike from the mode of increment, noting that elections are forthcoming in some states.
But the government should not make any publicity about the padyatra and no political official should make any reference about it in public speeches.
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