Tura’ Mar 2, 2025: Job Card holder’s dues payment is a concerning issue that troubling the villagers in rural areas. BJP cleared the dues of all Centre Schemes in time. 90% is bore by the Centre Government while, 10% is the contribution of the State Government. Some villagers are made to believe that Centre Government is not clearing the payment due for the job card holders, but the fact is the State Government is not sanctioning the due amount to the Blocks. Villagers are easily fooled into believing that Centre Government has cheated them of their due wages, while the fact is that Centre Government cleared the dues in time, said Bernard N.Marak MDC of Tura GHADC constituency.

The State Government should ensure through the blocks that all work demands are forwarded in time and completed in time as bills should be cleared within 15 days after submission of bills. The blocks should also ensure that bills are submitted in time, “But I found that most of bills, even from previous years are not updated online. Many individuals are shown as absent in their muster rolls. Blocks should check this. Blocks should also clarify the fact that they can issue work orders only when money is released for the proposed jobs so there is no fault with the Centre Government” added Marak.

The Job Card holders under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) are facing multiple issues, but since many Village Employment Council (VEC) Secretaries are appointed and not elected, they are silent on this matter while job card holders are subdued by them and their wages denied of unjustified pretext, said Tura MDC.

Multiple complaints have come from villages raising issues on why the payments were not cleared in time, the dues are pending even from previous years. “In our inquiry we found that State Government is not releasing the required amount to the blocks for the payment of wages” said Marak.