The scorching heat in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts has been making the work of day labourers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) a difficult one despite the introduction of split timings. Adding to their woes is the Centre’s decision to withdraw the additional summer dry season allowance from this financial year.
At Siddharampuram village hillock and at a tank bed in Bukkarayasamudram mandal of Anantapur district, a group of 200 agriculture labourers are tasked with digging ponds to collect rainwater flowing down the hillock and to desilt the dry tank to increase its storage.
A group of 40 women, headed by their leader Chandrakala , has been toiling to remove the boulders and certain quantity of red soil from the hillock. The progress, however, is slow as the work is tough.
