New Delhi: "A success rate below 50 per cent is nothing to be proud of," is how the Supreme Court spoke of the country's rural employment guarantee scheme while delivering it's judgement on drought and pulling up state governments and the Centre.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA was meant to provide 100 days of employment. But the government's own figures show employment provided per household at the national level is 47 days which is the highest achieved in the last six years.
Though the cabinet has approved an additional 50 days of work in drought-hit regions, given the state of affairs, it is not clear how this will be achieved.
The Supreme Court judgement says there is a clear admission on the part of Government of India that huge amounts remain unpaid towards wages under the employment guarantee act.
"When the rights of tens of thousands of people are affected by delayed payment of their legitimate dues, there is a clear constitutional breach committed by the State - be it the Government of India or a State Government," wrote Justice Lokur and Justice Ramana in the order. "Social Justice has been thrown out of the window."
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA was meant to provide 100 days of employment. But the government's own figures show employment provided per household at the national level is 47 days which is the highest achieved in the last six years.
Though the cabinet has approved an additional 50 days of work in drought-hit regions, given the state of affairs, it is not clear how this will be achieved.
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The Supreme Court judgement says there is a clear admission on the part of Government of India that huge amounts remain unpaid towards wages under the employment guarantee act.
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"When the rights of tens of thousands of people are affected by delayed payment of their legitimate dues, there is a clear constitutional breach committed by the State - be it the Government of India or a State Government," wrote Justice Lokur and Justice Ramana in the order. "Social Justice has been thrown out of the window."
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