Dindigul tribes show less interest in work offered under MGNREGA

DINDIGUL: Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Dindigul have cited a number of reasons for their diminished interest in working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.

According to official records, registrations under the MGNREGA scheme for 2024-25 have already begun and around 3,08,512 households and 3,67,860 people have registered. Job cards were issued to 74,442 people from SC and 2,31,397 people from other communities. However, the job cards offered to people with TS were only 337.

B Meena (55), a woman from the Paliyar community said, “We live near the Sirumalai forest and men mainly move within the forest to collect honey, herbs, sticks and tubers. This has continued for several hundred generations. Furthermore , this The work is consistent and offers work throughout the year. However, MGNREGA offers work only for 100 days. Furthermore, tribals have to travel several kilometers for work assigned under the scheme. “

Tamil Nadu Hill Tribes Association (Dindigul) secretary T Ajay Gosh said, “Several tribal communities fall under the category of Scheduled Tribes in the district such as Paliyar, Kattu Naicken and Malai Vedan. Although the number of people in the community Paliyar numbers 6,000 and are mainly found along Sirumalai and Kodaikanal. They go to the forest to collect honey, tubers and other materials.

Only a few are deployed as daily wagers and their salary is Rs 300 to Rs 350 per day which is an inconsistent income. When it comes to the Kattu Naicken community, they number around 2000 people and are mainly found in Nilakottai and Puthupatti. They migrate to other districts and roam as “oracles” (local astrologers). Another community is Malai Vedan and is found in the area of ​​Old Batlagundu, Palani and New Ayakudi. These communities have many other job options. Hence, there is little interest in the MGNREGA scheme.”

Talking to TNIE, a District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) official said, “We cannot compel anyone from any community. People from all communities show interest in the scheme, mainly due to their precarious financial situation. The payment offered is just Rs 290 per day , which is still a normal sum for marginalized communities. Thus, we find women and elderly people showing more interest. Some tribes migrate to urban locations in search of better jobs, but are still registered under the work scheme, but avoid receiving employment cards or. show interest.”