APAU warns of movement if employment guarantee scheme funds are diverted

Amalapuram – Andhra Pradesh: Kaarem Venkateswara Rao, the State Vice President of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Labor Union, expressed serious concerns over the government’s handling of the Employment Guarantee Scheme. Speaking at a district committee meeting held at the union’s district office, Karem said, “If the employment guarantee scheme is watered down and funds are diverted, leaving labourers without work, another movement is inevitable.”

Demand for manual labor-centric jobs

The meeting, chaired by Comrade Tadi Sriram Murthy, highlighted the government’s recent announcement regarding the conduct of special gram sabhas to identify and allocate jobs under the Employment Guarantee Scheme. District Secretary Sakhile Suryanarayana and Kaarem both emphasized the need for the government to ensure that the scheme prioritizes jobs that require manual labour rather than machinery works. “We demand the government to identify works that do not increase material compliance. If there is no work for labourers while focusing on cement concrete works, the very purpose of the scheme will be defeated,” they remarked.

Call for restoration of removed Jobs

The union leaders also called for the reinstatement of jobs that were previously removed from the employment scheme. “Jobs such as horse hoof earthwork and jungle clearance, which were earlier removed, should be reallocated in the employment scheme,” they demanded, stressing that the scheme should focus on providing labour-intensive work to ensure livelihoods for the rural population.

Warning of potential movement

The leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the current trend of diverting work intended for labourers to cement works and contractors using machinery. They lamented that such practices were depriving labourers of much-needed employment opportunities. “The minister has announced gram sabhas in more than 13,000 panchayats this year to decide on the works under the Employment Guarantee Scheme. However, if these gram sabhas divert labor-intensive work to contractors and machinery, a movement will become inevitable,” warned the union leaders.

The meeting saw participation from district leaders including Polamuri Srinivasa Rao and Bheera Venkata Rao, who echoed the concerns and demands voiced by their colleagues.