Muradi Demands Village Status Back | 04 Jun 2024

Why in News?

Muradi was merged into Naugaon Nagar Panchayat in 2018, alongside Mungra, Naugaon, and Dhari Gram Panchayats.

  • Since becoming part of the Nagar Panchayat, the village residents have reported experiencing more losses than gains.

Key Points

  • Agriculture is the primary income source in village, but Nagar Panchayat lacks farming facilities.
    • Irrigation canals (kools) maintained by the former Gram Panchayat are now neglected.
    • Increased wild animal intrusions (monkeys, pigs, stray cattle) threaten crops.
  • A major canal damaged during highway expansion has remained unrepaired for five years and smaller canals also suffer damage, impacting irrigation.
    • Local youth raised Rs 35,000 for temporary canal repairs, which proved ineffective without government support.
  • Transition from Gram Panchayat to Nagar Panchayat led to the loss of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) benefits.
  • Residents now face higher house taxes, water, and electricity tariffs without service improvements.
  • A major concern of Muradi residents is the increased migration.
    • The village boasts a historically non-migratory community, but residents fear that urban incorporation will disrupt this tradition.

MGNREGA Scheme

  • About:
    • MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural development.
    • It provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
  • Implementation Agency:
    • The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.
  • Objective:
    • This act was introduced with an aim of improving the Purchasing Power of the rural people, primarily semi or unskilled work to people living below poverty line in rural India.
    • It attempts to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in the country.