Motihari: The district administration has approved the remuneration of programme officers (POs) posted at various blocks in West Champaran for the execution of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) schemes at the grassroots level.
The development came a day after the POs proceeded on a mass leave for seven days on July 20 to protest against the denial of their remuneration by the district administration for the past four months. The Telegraph had carried a report on the issue in its edition dated July 21.
Confirming this, West Champaran deputy development officer (DDC) Ravindra Prasad Singh said remuneration of the POs pertaining to three months from April had been approved.
"In a couple of POs' case, we have blocked the remuneration for a few days," said Singh, adding it would again be released, if satisfied with some queries to them.
The district administration had earlier denied the remuneration of POs describing their performances below expectations.
Programme officers refused to attend the meeting convened by the deputy development commissioner on July 23. "One can see the dichotomy in the statement of top district officials. First, they stalled our remuneration expressing dissatisfaction with our performances. Now, they are spinning a different story which is not acceptable," said POs in unison.
They dropped hints of approaching labour court to protest a pay cut for any PO. "We will continue to be on mass casual leave. If situation so warranted, we will not dither from approaching the labour court," said a PO, speaking about their future course of action. "For the past many months, the officials use foul words and treat the POs with contempt in the review meeting," they iterated.
The MGNREGA executors said top district officials stalled work under various government schemes.
When contacted, Chhabila Mukhiya, the headman of Pipra Pakari panchayat in Bettiah block, blamed the district official for shelving the schemes. "In 2018-19, no work or scheme under MGNREGA, which guarantees employment to villagers, has been undertaken in my panchayat or any other panchayat," said Mukhiya.
