|
Rajya Sabha
The National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP) had been launched in the month of November 2004 in the 150 most backward Districts of the country to provide additional supplementary wage employment to rural poor. The allocation for the remaining five months of the 2004-05 was Rs. 2020 crore along with 20 lakh tonnes of foodgrains. The part of initial installment of Rs. 297.91 crore at the Rs. 2 crore per district with entire allocated foodgrains of 20 lakh tonnes was immediately released to all the identified 150 Districts in November 2004 itself. The balance of initial installment amounting Rs. 1653.75 crore was released in January 2005 the moment the same was made available through first supplementary demand for Grants and Rs. 67.79 crore in March 2005. As such, the States have been given adequate resources immediately on the launching the programme and there is no reason the States should delay payment of wages under the NFFWP.
Every State has its own system of schedule of rates of payment of wages under the programme. Notified minimum wages are to be paid. Wages are paid through a mix of cash and foodgrains. 5 Kg of foodgrains has to be paid per manday and atleast 25 per cent of the wages in cash. In case any of the two components is not adequately available, it may be compensated with other component. This has been done to take care of late or inadequate supply of foodgrains by the FCI. This also ensures unhindered implementation of NFFWP.
This information was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
MLD:LK:L-68(RS)July28
|
