Imphal, November 25 2009: Women labourers are getting wage less than that of men as the people across the state are in engaging heavily in harvesting works.

Women labours are also admitting getting lesser than man counterparts.

Men are getting Rs 150 per day and women are Rs 120 in rural areas of of Bishnupur and Imphal west area while in parts of Keibi and its surrounding areas of Imphal east district, men who involved in transporting rice gunny from the field to the house of the owners are getting Rs 150, those who could not take part in the transportation are getting Rs 130 while women are paying Rs 120 per day.

People in the rural areas of the state are so busy in the harvesting works that the stage of old saying "Ema Sirabasu Paklongna Kuppaga Thambu" reached.

But, both woman and man were taking similar role in the works.

On getting lesser wages by the women member of the gram panchayat of ward no.Kamong Meishnam Maning Leikai in Bishnupur district, Sinam Pramodini revealed that men were getting Rs 150 per day while women were getting Rs 120 but admitted that it is because of man are more strength to work and taking the main part in the harvesting.

If taking into account the lost of time and mode of engagement, there no reason for giving less wage to the women workers, she observed.

There is no doubt when man gets more, 45 year-old woman Nongbam Tombimacha, a resident of Hekrujam Maning Leikai said.

Sixty year-old Elangbam Thambalsana observed that getting more wage by men from women is in force for long time back.

It has been a custom in the society here.

There no reason to blame on it.

With regard to the different of wages of workers in Kumbi and its surrounding village in Imphal east district, Ngariyanbam Borni disclosed of enforcing the same rate like that in parts of Bishnupur and Imphal west district but the only different was young men who could not transport rice gunny got at the rate of Rs 130 per day.

Sharing her opinion on the different of wages, Borni expressed her willingness to pay same wages saying that if broadminded same wages can be paid as both groups are indispensable part of the work force at the harvesting work.

While working together in a field, all are engaging in the same manner.

Women are not less in the working.

The in forcing social norm of paying lower wages to the women has no appropriate reason but they don't know whom to complaint.

As such even unwillingness exist in their mind, they are following the same, she added.

An official of the state labour department when contacted said that in every block in rural area they are deploying labour inspectors.

In the report submitted by them every year, no matter about the different of wages mention.

Apart from this no one lodged complaint on the matter.

Manipur government had fixed the wages of workers at the rate of Rs 80.10 per day.

In the official gazette, wages are not differentiated between man and woman.

In the Scale Remunerable Act, 1976 also there were no distinction between women and men working in the same work.

If complaints are coming up, the labour department will discuss on the matter and work out for equal wages, the official further observed.

When, official of the labour department inspected at the Stone Crushing Centre, workers are getting same wages even hearsay are around of paying less to the women workers.

During inspection to 10 private hospitals in the state, labour department also found paying same wages.

Apart from in these hospitals, numbers of workers are more than men.

The official also informed that the advisory board of the department is chalking out policy to hike the wages above Rs 100 per day.

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