The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Tuesday staged a demonstration at Marakkanam near here, demanding immediate release of pending dues to Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Leading the protest, Villupuram Member of Parliament D. Ravikumar said Tamil Nadu was not allocated even half of the tranche of funds received under the scheme last year. As a result, over 5.12 lakh workers who have registered under the scheme, had not received the guaranteed 100 days of work under MGNREGS.
Mr. Ravikumar said the BJP-led government at the Centre had systematically undermined the scheme and the total number of man-days had been drastically reduced in the State. The Centre has reduced the man-days in Tamil Nadu. Consequentially, several job cardholders in the State were not getting adequate work and have lost their livelihood.
He demanded the Centre to ensure that the MGNREGS continued to provide “dignified employment” and “financial security” to the rural poor.
