Margao: The Betalbatim panchayat has set a ceiling on unskilled casual labour charges in the village, capping daily wages at Rs 800 for male workers and Rs 600 for female workers, following a resolution passed at a recent gram sabha.The decision comes in the wake of mounting complaints from villagers over exorbitant rates being charged by migrant labourers for everyday work. Residents alleged that charges ranged from Rs 600 to Rs 1,300 a day, even as labourers reportedly worked barely six hours, with several breaks throughout the day. The matter was raised at the gram sabha and subsequently taken up by the panchayat body, which decided to fix uniform rates for unskilled labour hired by locals.To ensure compliance, the panchayat has put up notice boards at various locations in the village, publicly displaying the sanctioned rates.Betalbatim sarpanch Minu Antonio Fernandes said the move was necessitated by the arbitrary and inflated rates being charged. “People complained about migrant labourers charging exorbitant rates without even working for the full eight hours that is expected of them. So, following a gram sabha resolution, the panchayat body decided to fix rates for unskilled labour hired by locals so that charges remain uniform across the village,” Fernandes said.He, however, cautioned that the success of the initiative hinged on villagers acting collectively. “It is important that people maintain a united front on this. If even one resident breaks ranks and pays above the fixed rate, the entire exercise will become pointless, and labourers will go back to charging whatever they please,” Fernandes said.The panchayat said it would keep a close watch on compliance and take further action if violations come to light.
