AGARTALA, March 25 (TIWN): Non-utilized funds and huge unpaid MGNREGA wages were reported by the Centre against Tripura Govt since a year before the direct beneficiary was system was mobilized. Presently a clash of talk developed among state and centre regarding unspent fund and on the other hand, the unpaid wages to the labour has disappointed the Centre once again. Before direct beneficiary method of payment began to work fully huge allegation were raising about unpaid REGA wages. However after direct beneficiary system was launched the problem solved automatically and now there are not much fights, clashes regarding MGNREGA wages. But at the same time the unpaid MGNREGA wages in 2015-16 has still remained unpaid. Eventhough Supreme Court ordered Tripura Govt to clear the irregular wages soon, but Central Govt’s MGNREGA website has kept the order on the top notification since 2016, as no step was taken by Tripura Govt to clear the unpaid wages.

In a letter MGNREGA Director Suparna S Pachouri told Tripura Principal Secretary GSG Aayangar that, “……..Supreme Court with case Writ Petitioner (C) No. 857 of 2015, SC has expressed concern about regarding nonpayment of wages. You are aware of the fact that the Ministry has been harping on the need to clear all wage liabilities on priority. Infact it has been clearly stated that the payment of wages ought to be the first charge on the funds released to States and UTs from time to time”.

The notice further stated that while adequate amounts of funds have been released to states during the current FY with clear-cut direction to clear all the pending liabilities it is a matter of concern that Rs. 203.86 lakhs is still shown as unpaid wages in your State for FY 2015-16 in the MIS of MGNREGA Programme”

“Keeping in view of Supreme Court’s concern and the advice of the Ministry, you are requested to take appropriate action for clearing all pending wage liabilities at the earliest.

Now it’s no more under doubt that the appropriate use of MGNREGA funds are yet to happen in Tripura. Evenafter so many allegations raised against the Principal Secretary there is no improvement of his liabilities, resulting huge resentment among the MGNREGA workers.

Whereas Tripura Govt boosts about highest working days under MGNREGA in Tripura, but it never mentions about so many unpaid wages of poor labours.