Amid shortage of workforce, job scheme workers to be given additional responsibility

In Tiruchi, job scheme workers to be engaged in farmwork due to labour shortage. Private landholdings selected based on economic status of landowners & measurability of work. Banana fields suitable for workers; drenches dug twice during crop period & props put up to protect from strong winds. Trial basis in Thottiyam & Marungapuri yielded positive results. Unit cost of various farm operations being arrived at. Process likely to be completed in a month.

Amid shortage of workforce, the Department of Rural Development has decided to engage workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in farming activities pertaining to lands owned by individuals or private parties in Tiruchi district.

In the backdrop of a shortage of labour, job scheme workers will now be engaged in farmwork besides their regular employment.

S. Devanathan, Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency, Tiruchi, told The Hindu that a scheme to utilise the services of rural job workers in the landholdings of individual farmers is in the pipeline. The private landholdings will be selected based on the economic status of the landowners as per the Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) of the State Livelihood Mission. They should have rural job cards. Another criteria

Another criterion is the measurability of the farm work to be undertaken.

Farm work on banana fields were found to be suitable for rural job workers. Drenches were required to be dug in banana plantations to drain excess water and prevent soil erosion. The drenches were to be dug twice during the crop period.

Similarly, a section of banana growers put up props on the trees to protect them from strong winds. This work could also be taken into account in measuring the work executed by the workers.

In Tiruchi district, banana cultivation was taken up in a few blocks, including Anthanallur and Manikandam. The available work options could be explored, Mr. Devanathan said, adding that the lands of rural job card holders could be selected to engage the rural job workers, along with their relatives and friends who would be paid on a par with the former.