MGNREGA employees stage sit-in demanding job security

KOHIMA: Around 500 employees under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Nagaland today staged sit-in-protest demanding job security and creation of separate department of the scheme.

The employees staged the protest under the banner of Nagaland MGNREGA Employees Association with placards outside State Civil Secretariat demanding fulfillment of their three-point charter of demands.

The protest was held as per the directive of North East MGNREGA Employees Association (NEMEA), President of Nagaland MGNREGA Association said Mathew Yhome.

"We are fighting for our rights and seeking security of jobs because under the Act, the villagers and rural people are getting the benefit, but there is no job security for the employees," he said.

Highlighting the three point charter of demands, Yhome said "we are asking for regularisation of our job by having proper structure and uniform salary for MGNREGA employees all over the country, which is to be implemented by Central Government".

The second demand, he said, is to provide all other facilities on par with other government services.

"We are also asking for creation of separate department for MGNREGA under Ministry of Rural Department, Government of India," Yhome said.

"The employees of MGNREGA are being treated like orphans by both central and state governments," he said, adding that the Association also supports NEMEA demand for early clearance of pending salaries of MGNREGA employees in other North Eastern states.