THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.21646 of 2011 ORDER: In the recent past, a tendency is spreading all over the nation to earn, or expect, emoluments without doing the proportionate work. Though the people, who are successful in that regard, may feel happy, it is not good for the society, at large, or for the individual concerned in the long run. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was introduced with an objective of providing employment to the rural unemployed. Over a period, it has emerged as an avenue for collection of wages without doing any work, worth its name. Since the operation of the scheme was entrusted to an altogether new set up, instances of corruption and irregularities are galore. The Commissioner, Rural Development, appears to have taken note of the widespread criticism that wages of substantial amount are being paid to persons who work hardly for one or two hours. It is a different matter that not a single work identified for engaging the workers would add to the wealth of nation and that the farming community is feeling the brunt of the scheme, on account of non- availability of the farm labour, or their inability to pay the wages at those rates. The 2nd respondent issued a memo, dated 21.01.2011, stating that many people are reeling under the impression that wages can be claimed under the scheme just by doing work for one, or two hours. In that memo, he directed that the workers so engaged shall discharge duty between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, between February and June, and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from July to January and the wages at the rate of Rs.121/-, per day, would be paid only to such workers. Petitioners 1 to 6 claim to be workers and 7th petitioner claims to be an association. Their grievance is that as against the minimum wages of Rs.125/-, per day, per unskilled worker stipulated under G.O.Ms.No.52, dated 03.07.2010, the respondents are proposing to pay only Rs.121/- per day and that the work is being extracted for a longer duration. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the respondents. The petitioners appear to have got the taste of earning the money, without doing any work. It is just un-understandable as to what grievance can they have vis-à-vis the memo. The working time stipulated under the memo itself are hardly 4 to 5 hours. Even that is being objectionable to the petitioners. They seem to be unmindful of the fact that a society, or nation, cannot be built, nor can it survive, when the members thereof hesitate to do work, or to become lazy. This Court does not find any basis to interfere with the memo. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Dt:02.08.2011 GJ