(a) whether it is a fact that the rates of wages to be paid under the Urban Employment Generation Programme were as per prescribed minimum wages for the unskilled labourers as notified by the concerned State Governments and were to be same for men and women workers;
(b) if so, whether it is a fact that the payment of wages to male and female were made at differential rates in the States of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu; and
(c) if so, the reasons for such a discrimination?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA )
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b)&(c): It has been reported by the State of Maharashtra that
in a very few Municipal Councils, the payment of wages to male
and female were being made at differential rates, mainly in
cases where light work was assigned to the female workers.
However, concerned Municipal Authorities have already been
instructed by the State Government to pay equal wages to male
and female workers. In so far as Government of Tamil Nadu is
concerned, no such disparity is reported.