Chennai, June 15(BPNS)

Firebrand leader of the MDMK and Member of Parliament Vaiko had urged the Government of Tamil Nadu to revoke the ban on comorbid workers above 55 from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA) scheme. In a statement on Tuesday, the senior leader said that Government order excluding comorbid workers from the MGNREGA scheme is totally uncalled for and has to be immediately revoked.

He said that the order banning workers above 55 with comorbidities was issued by the then commissioner for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, KS Palanisamy on April 20 when Covid -19 cases were on the rise.

The MDMK leader said that the scheme was the only solace for a large number of rural folk which includes destitute, widows, and elderly citizens who were struggling for day-to-day living. He said that banning comorbid workers from the MGNREGA scheme would lead to a situation wherein the starvation deaths would outnumber deaths by Covid -19.

The lawmaker said that government should revoke the order so that all old aged people come benefit from the scheme. Vaiko said that with the number of Covid-19 cases on the decline, it is high time that the order is revoked and includes people above 55 years of age with comorbidities.

He also called upon the health department to expedite the vaccination drive for the MGNREGA scheme with immediate effect.