MGNREGA workers launch protest in Delhi

Demand rollback of mandatory appbased attendance

NEW DELHI, FEB 16

(PTI): Over a month after digital attendance was made mandatory for MGNREGA workers, a group of them have launched a protest at the Jantar Mantar here, saying they are being marked absent due to technical glitches and their wages are being deducted.

They have gathered under the banner of ‘NREGA Sangharsh Morcha’, and are demanding the National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) application be taken back.

They said they started the protest on Tuesday and it will continue for 100 days, with MNREGA workers from different states joining in.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, better known as MGNREGA or NREGA, is a flagship scheme aimed at enhancing livelihood secu- rity of rural households by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed employment.

Those protesting at the Jantar Mantar say their demands are basic -- guaranteed work and guaranteed payments.

“I am here to ask for work,” said Rekha Devi, who has come to Delhi from