Punjab: Backbone of defence against flood, MGNREGA workers say pay pending
Though the Centre credits the wages directly, Pendu Mazdoor Union leaders argued that the state must coordinate better to ensure timely disbursal
4 min read
While hundreds of workers are working in every district, officials said, Jalandhar alone has employed around 700 for filling the sandbagsAs Punjab reels under heavy rainfall and flooding, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers have emerged as the backbone of the state’s flood defense.
While embankments (Dhussi bundh) on the Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar rivers have breached at several points, the Sutluj’s bandh has held firm so far — thanks largely to the relentless efforts of farmers, villagers and particularly MGNREGA workers. In Ludhiana’s Sasrali, where erosion threatens the Sutluj’s bandh, strengthening work is underway.
However, the irony — while MGNREGA workers stand as shield against the floods, payments worth nearly Rs 7 crore are pending in Jalandhar district alone — Rs 1.25 crore in Mehatpur, Rs 94 lakh in Phillaur, Rs 42 lakh in Nurmahal, Rs 33 lakh in Shahkot, Rs 50 lakh in Lohian and Rs 69 lakh in Rurka Kalan among others. The payments of these workers are pending in across several districts of the state.
Thousands of MGNREGA workers across the state are filling lakhs of sandbags daily, either to reinforce existing embankments or to keep them ready for emergencies.
According to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, 7.18 lakh households were engaged in MGNREGA work between April and early September this year. In comparison, 8.34 lakh households worked in 2024 and 8.49 lakh households in 2023.
While hundreds of workers are working in every district, officials said, Jalandhar alone has employed around 700 for filling the sandbags.
“More than 35,000 sandbags have been filled in the past couple of days,” said ADC (Development) Jalandhar, Vivek Modi.
Last year, MGNREGA workers were deployed continuously from April to August to strengthen the Dhussi bundh under a special flood-protection drive. “Because of that work, despite unprecedented rainfall this year, the embankment from Phillaur to Gidderpindi has survived without any breach so far,” said Tarsem Peter, president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union.
Criticising the government for “11th-hour preparations” this season, Peter said, “Had the workers been engaged from April again this year, much of today’s emergency could have been avoided.”
Though the Centre credits the wages directly, Pendu Mazdoor Union leaders argued that the state must coordinate better to ensure timely disbursal. On the ground, the workers are complaining that their hardships remain unaddressed.
“We are working tirelessly to save the bandh, even though our wages remain unpaid for weeks,” said Kulwinder Kaur, who is part of a group working near Sangowal village. “We are daily wagers, our kutcha houses are damaged by incessant rain and the government should at least provide ration relief.”
Another MGNREGA worker at Sangowal, Sunita, said: “Several MGNREGA workers’ mud houses have become unlivable due to incessant rain. Safe housing must be provided to us.”
Meanwhile, religious and social organisations have stepped in with langars and other essentials. Alongside MGNREGA workers, farmers and farm union members are also standing guard at embankments. However, they allege that ruling party leaders have mocked their voluntary efforts to cover up official lapses.
“We are working day and night at the bandhs to prevent breaches, but instead of acknowledging our role, leaders are passing derogatory remarks.” But the question looming large is whether those shoring up Punjab’s fragile flood defenses will themselves be left unprotected from poverty and neglect.
You May Like
