SCs, STs sidelined in paying NREGS amount, alleges sarpanch

KARIMNAGAR:  Sarpanch Boodidha Mallesh of Nagaram village in Manthani mandal of Peddapalli district on Saturday alleged that officials are discriminating against people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes while sanctioning amounts for works done under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

In his representation submitted to the scheme’s project director Sridhar, Mallesh sought immediate payment of NREGS’ wages to SC and ST workers, who have not been paid since last two months.
Several people with poor economic backgrounds, who have returned to their villages after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, have been facing considerable hardships. To make ends meet, they are working on projects being implemented under NREGS. However, payments to them are not timely.
Mallesh charged that that though officials have deposited amounts into bank accounts of workers belonging to BC and OC categories for works done under NREGS, no such payment has been made to people of SC and ST categories since the last two months.

The sarpanch asked officials to stop such discrimination and release the amounts immediately, so that they can take care of their families during the prevailing difficult conditions.