Even as the Tripura government had announced that salaries for all state government employees would be disbursed by September 26, nearly 2,500 MGNREGA contractual workers are yet to receive their September wages — two weeks after the promised deadline.

These workers, who earn modest daily wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), have expressed deep frustration as the delay has pushed many of their families into financial distress ahead of the Durga Puja festival.

Several workers alleged that despite the government’s assurance, the non-payment of salaries reflects a “step-motherly attitude” towards low-income employees who rely on their monthly earnings for survival.

While the state government has not yet issued any official clarification, sources in the administration claimed that the delay was caused by certain technical and accounting issues in processing the payments.

However, the prolonged uncertainty has triggered anger and anxiety among the workers. Many fear that if the issue is not resolved soon, they may face severe hardships during the festive period.

Questions are now being raised about the government’s preparedness and accountability in ensuring timely disbursal of wages. Several workers’ groups have urged the authorities to act immediately to release pending payments, warning that continued negligence could lead to widespread protests in the coming days.