Provide wages to workers: Sukhu

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 10

Former state Congress president and sitting MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has demanded that the government should suspend all works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and provide daily wages to all workers as chances of transmission of virus was high.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Sukhu said as workers sit and work together, it would be advisable to suspend all works till the Covid situation improves. “Since the main objective is to prevent the transmission of the virus, I appeal that all labourers whose name has been entered in the record must be provided wages so that they can take care of their families,” he said.

Sukhu also expressed concern over the delay in reports of RT-PCR tests being undertaken at various testing centres.

“At many places, reports are being received after almost four or five days, increasing the chances of spread of virus to others,” he said.

He demanded that the report should be conveyed on the same day so that people can isolate themselves and snap the transmission chain.

Sukhu also sought details of ventilators that were lying unused in the stores of the Health Department and if technical staff had been engaged to operate them.

“When the need for ventilators is so dire, then why is the government not engaging manpower who can operate the ventilators and save lives,” he said.