Bhubaneswar, August 5: Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik’s recent statement has ignited controversy in Odisha. He mentioned that JCB machines would be used for digging earth under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
According to Naik, government agencies would employ JCBs to excavate soil, and then workers would shift the dug-up earth as needed. This approach, he argued, would allow the government to provide employment to labourers for 300 days a year under MGNREGS.
However, this move has drawn criticism from both the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress. BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera pointed out that MGNREGS guidelines prohibit the use of machines for work. Using machines in MGNREGS projects is considered illegal.
Similarly, Congress leader Ramachandra Kadam also emphasized that employing machines for MGNREGS work goes against the established rules and regulations of the scheme.
The debate centers on whether JCB machines should be allowed in MGNREGS activities, and it highlights the complexities of balancing technological efficiency with adherence to program guidelines. Ultimately, any changes to the existing rules would require coordination between the state and central governments.
