Madan (Netrakona) Correspondent

The government has organized 40 days of work through the Employment Programme Scheme (EGPP) for the employment of the poor in rural townships.

Every worker working in this project will get daily allowance of 400 taka.Although there is a rule to pay wages every week, the workers of 8 unions of Madan Upazila of Netrakona have not received any wages for 24 working days.

Absenteeism and lack of supervision of laborers and digging of soil with excavators are derailing the real purpose of employment creation projects.
Complaints have been raised that the soil is being cut with excavators by employing less number of workers in the project.

With the help of Project Implementation Officers (PIOs) and public representatives, excavators are cutting the soil by listing the names of the workers to collect the project funds.Due to this, the number of workers is less.And those of us who are working are still not getting wages.Even though I am working, I am living with my family without getting wages on time.

According to the office of the upazila project implementation officer, the work of the employment creation program (EGPP) project was started from November 26 in 8 unions of the upazila in the financial year 2022-2023. This year, 827 workers are scheduled to work daily in 20 projects in the upazila.1 crore 32 lakh 32 thousand taka has been allocated for 40 days wages of workers.There are rules, a worker will get a wage of 400 rupees for daily work attendance.Workers must be paid wages within a week.But even after 24 working days, not a single worker has received wages.

On Wednesday (December 28), it was found that the presence of workers in the project was very low.40 workers were supposed to work in Madan Union's Barburi project, but no workers were found there.But in that project only one day some soil was cut with excavator.

Apart from this, instead of 55 workers, 16 workers were seen working in the Unienor Kulioti village project.Besides, 33 out of 50 workers are found in Howre project of Jaola village of Kaitail Union, 31 out of 40 workers are found in Shivashram project.21 out of 36 workers were found in Kuterikona project of Tiyashree Union, 26 out of 36 workers in Maghmara project and 25 out of 37 workers in Baraura project.18 out of 56 workers are available in Makhna village project of Naikpur union and 31 out of 55 workers are available in Barati Moati project.Rest of the projects are exactly the same.Apart from this, child labor is being used in every project.

The workers, who did not wish to be named, said that most of the workers do not come to work. We are working but not getting wages. Due to not getting money on time, we are having trouble.Many will take money without working again.Those who do not come to work are mostly the relatives of Lok Chairman members.

Locals said that despite the increase in the wages of the workers of the job creation project, the work pattern remains the same as before. Common people are not getting the benefit of a big project in the government due to the lack of supervision by the stakeholders. So the government needs to pay attention to implement this project properly.

Madan UP Chairman Khairul Islam said that some workers are short due to Boro rice planting time. When he came to know about the fact that the soil is being cut with excavators instead of workers,he said that although some parts of the soil are cut with excavators, the rest of the work is being done by workers.

Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Shaukat Jamil said, "In Madan Union, I visited the project after getting information that the soil was cut with excavators instead of workers in a project of job creation program in Madan Union." I did not find any workers there.Moreover, some number of workers are absent in each project of the upazila. It is possible to pay the wages of the workers on time as the public representatives do not submit the labor master roll to the office.

Acknowledging the issue of child labor, he said that the chairmen have been told not to work with children.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanzina Shahreen said that the project in which soil has been cut with an excavator, the project bill will not be given. Only those workers who worked on the project will get wages.