Sheetal Nanda chairs first ever ‘Time and Motion’ study of MGNREGA workers

Jammu: Secretary Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, J&K Sheetal Nanda, today chaired a day-long workshop on ‘time and motion study of MGNREGA workers’ conducted by the department in collaboration with National Institute of Technology, Srinagar.

The workshop aimed at to acquaint and sensitize the field functionaries about the outcome of the study and various factors that come into play while determining the performance of MGNREGA workers. The scientific study conducted across J&K will put an end to disparity in wages among the male, female and disabled persons.

Pertinently, the study assumes greater significance in MGNREGA as the Centrally sponsored scheme stipulates that the government must link the wages without any gender bias and shall pay the remuneration according to the rural schedule of rates fixed after time and motion studies for different types of work. Based on the study, a standardized schedule of rates will be finalised for women, elderly, differently-abled and persons with debilitating ailments so as to improve their participation through productive work. It will also facilitate in fixing deadlines for completion of projects and better planning.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary said, “The study will scientifically fix a worker’s daily output to earn his wages under the scheme and the worker will be paid accordingly keeping in view various variables like age, health, gender, weather et al.”

“The TMS will facilitate in arriving at fixing the Schedule Of Rates (SOR) for MGNREGA workers,” said the Secretary adding that it will end disparity of rates among the workers.

Directors Rural Development, Jammu and Kashmir divisions, Superintending Engineers (REW) and Executive Engineers of both the divisions were present on the occasion.

TMS Engineer, Shahrukh Mushtaq, gave a detailed presentation on the subject.