“We had written to the government in July this year for the hike. But they did not respond,” said Swapan Ganguly, secretary of NGO Paschimbanga Kshetmajoor Samity, adding workers will lose Rs 500-1000 if the state government does not amend its order. “Arrears should be given to the workers. The hike should be with retrospective effect,” he added.

The issue of NREGS wage hike has been under consideration since February 2009. After the Union finance minister announced the hike in his budget speech, the Union rural development ministry asked state governments to place their requisitions according to the hike. A notice issued by the Union rural development ministry said the hike would be effective from April 1, 2009.

On an average, rural workers in West Bengal have lost Rs19 per person a day since April 1 2009. To date, the number of person days generated in West Bengal from April 1, 2009 stands at 770.16 lakh. So, the state has failed to claim additional Rs146.33 crore under the scheme, Samity said.

“The government may feel it is difficult administratively to give arrears but it will lead to further corruption and misappropriation,” said Ganguly.