Rural job plan a slow starter in Kerala

While the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is picking up pace in other parts of the country, low demand for jobs from locals has made sure the scheme is a slow starter in Kerala.

"Because of the elections, the state was not able to implement the project, but they are going to start it this month," Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said at a recent review meeting on the scheme.

But officials say even after the elections, the demand for jobs in two districts in Kerala where the scheme has been implemented is disappointing.

"The daily wage decided by the state government for the programme is Rs 125 while they get around Rs 150 for other work. People here regard these jobs as menial and want something more dignified," Santhosh Kumar, project director, Palakkad district, said.

"Even though there is unemployment in the district, people are more interested in going to the Gulf than working under the scheme," he said. "The response to the provision under which grain is provided for work is also poor," he added.

This means opportunity for migrants. "Immigrant workers from Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Bihar are utilising the scheme," Kumar said.

According to the rural development ministry, in Palakkad and Wayanad districts, only 2.27 lakh rural households out of 6.16 lakh have registered under the programme. The state has not yet reported any expenditure to the ministry though it has been allocated Rs 21.79 crore.

The VS Achuthanandan government, however, is keen on taking the scheme to the people. "Our government is very much interested in the programme. We have developed a campaign model and are taking the support of NGOs. Pilot projects have been carried out and the programme will be launched on a full scale from November," Kumar said.

Wayanad district, with a large tribal population, is facing another problem. A few days ago, the tribals started an agitation complaining they were being paid only Rs 90 when the daily wage was Rs 125.

"This has led to officials and panchayats thinking how to take the programme in sensitive areas of the district forward," Shaukathali, project director, DRDA, said.