Telangana: MGNREGS labourers unhappy over low wage hike by Central government

Per day wage of the rural job scheme workers in the State enhanced by just Rs 7, taking the total wage to Rs 307 per day

Karimnagar: National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) labourers are unhappy following a meagre enhancement of wages for financial year 2025-26. The per day wage of the rural job scheme workers in Telangana was enhanced by just Rs 7, taking the total wage to Rs 307 per day.

While other States got hikes of up to Rs 26, the Centre fixing the hike at just Rs 7 for Telangana has left the scheme beneficiaries here upset. Though officials claimed that the Centre finalises the wages according to the Standard Schedule of Rates (SSR), the labourers said injustice was done to them.

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They expressed doubts over the system since there was a lot of difference between the present and previous year’s hike, when the wages in Telangana were hiked by Rs 28. While the hike was increased by Rs 12 in 2023, it was hiked by Rs 15 in 2022.

MGNREGS sources said that the wage rates would be fixed based on charges in Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL), which reflects inflation in rural areas. This ensures that wage under the scheme keep pace with the cost of living.

According to the new wage rates, Haryana got the highest wage hike of Rs 26. It was the only State getting the highest wage of Rs 400 for a labourer per day from the Centre. Meanwhile, Punjab got the second highest wage hike of Rs 24 (total wage: Rs 346) followed by Kerala by Rs.23 (Rs.369), Goa Rs.22 (Rs.378), Karnataka Rs.21 (Rs.370) and Lakshadweep Rs.21(Rs.336). While many States were getting higher wages, Telangana’s wages crossed Rs.300 only this year. With the latest hike of Rs.7, labourers here will get Rs.307 per day.

The wage, which was Rs 87.50 at the time of launching the scheme in 2005-06, rose to Rs.307, a jump of just Rs.219.5 over 18 years.

Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, District Rural Development Officer V Sridhar said that wages would be fixed according to SSR rates. When asked about the wage differences in other States, the DRDO said he was not aware of that.