New Delhi, April 2: The recorded divergence between the States-notified minimum wages and the Centre-notified MGNREGA wages has peaked to the maximum since 2009 — when both the rates were brought at par by the then UPA government. As per the latest data, the MNREGA wages is below the minimum wages in 34 of the 35 States in the nation, and all Union Territories barring Delhi, where the rural employment guarantee programme is not implemented.

Except for the state of Nagaland, the MGNREGA wages are way below the notified per-day minimum wage in all other parts of the nation. The maximum divergence, according to the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, has been recorded in the states of Goa, Gujarat, Tripura, Telangana, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. MGNREGA Wages Hiked by 2.16% -- Lowest Since 2006.

In Goa, the MNREGA-wage, following the hike announced for the year 2019-20, is Rs 254 per day -- way lower than the minimum wage of Rs 409 a day. In Jharkhand and Bihar, the minimum wages are Rs 239 and Rs 246, whereas, the per day MNREGA wage is Rs 171.

For instance, while Goa has a relatively higher MGNREGA wage of Rs 254 per day, its minimum wage is much higher at Rs 409 a day. In Jharkhand and Bihar, which has the lowest MGNREGA wage of Rs 171 daily, the states’ minimum wages are Rs 239 and Rs 246, respectively.

The difference between MNREGA and minimum wages has been widening since 2011 -- when Goa, Kerala, Haryana and Mizoram had recorded MNREGA wages lower than the minimum wages. In 2017, 28 of the 35 states had recorded the same, whereas, the number has now surged to 34.

The difference has been recorded despite the 2.16 per cent hike -- the lowest ever -- effected by the Ministry of Rural Development on Monday. The hike was implemented after taking permission from the Election Commission.

The CPI(M) targeted the Centre over the lowest-ever MNREGA wage hike, calling it a betrayal of the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the rural belts of the nation.

"While Modi during his Tripura assembly election campaign last year announced MGNREGA wages would rise at least up to Rs 200, and minimum wages to Rs 340, but in the government notification the MGNREGA wages were increased from Rs 177 to Rs 192 for Tripura. It is a clear cheating to the people of Tripura," said senior CPI(M) leader Gautam Das.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 02, 2019 07:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).