MGNREGA workers block state highway

Patiala, August 30

Workers employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) blocked the state highway near AAP MLA Gurdev Singh Dev Maan’s office for over two hours this afternoon.

They have been protesting at the office of the block development and panchayat officer, demanding action against some ‘gram rozgar sahayaks’ since July 31. The Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta (Azad) and Khetibadi Te Kisan Vikas Front too joined the protest.

Tehsildar Sheeshpal Singla asked them to submit a memorandum, but the protesters told him that the demands were already submitted on multiple occasions.

BKU (Azad) leader Gurcharan Singh Ghanudki said, “We don’t wish to trouble the public, but officials themselves are not respecting the law of the land and prompting chaos.”

“The way the police have been summoning the labour union leaders on a daily basis is also not acceptable,” said Gurdyal Singh Achal of the front.

Democratic MGNREGA state president Rajkumar Kansuha said, “As per the law, the BDPO had to dispose of complaints within seven days, but here complaints made even with evidence months ago had not been acted upon.”

The MGNREGA workers ended the protest and vacated the state highway following the intervention of officials from both the administration and the police.