New Delhi: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh backed the proposal to equate the wages for works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) scheme with the minimum wages prevailing in states.
The minimum wages in 14 states was more than remuneration paid for the work under the MNREGA scheme. “There should be uniform minimum wage across the country. If the minimum wage under the MNREGA scheme is less, then it should be raised to the level of minimum wage as per the Minimum Wage Act of 1948,” Ramesh told media.
“The minimum wage should be fixed after deliberations between the central government and the state governments so that it doesn’t have adverse impact on the centre’s budget,” he added. MNREGA is the biggest programme that guarantees 100 days of minimum work for poor people in rural areas.