The Rural Workers Association (RWA) and the district administration here are on a collision course over the non-payment of wages to workers, unemployment allowance to those eligible and non-availability of work for 1,500 job card holders under the NREGA in Khalwahan, Khani, Thata and Bung panchayats in the district. RWA convener Lawan Thakur and president Sant Ram met the district NREGA coordinator here today. They said they had brought these issues to the notice of the administration several times, but no action had been initiated to give relief to the rural workers so far. They said unemployment allowance worth Rs 20 lakh was overdue as per Section 1 of the Act. "Workers who worked during April, May and June await payments worth Rs 18 lakh,' they claimed. Moreover, 1,500 job card holders, who applied for work under NREGA about a month ago, had not got work so far. "This despite the fact that the Act provides that they should get work within 15 days of filing of an application,' they added. RWA leaders alleged that district officials were deliberately dismissing cases for unemployment allowance. DRDA-cum-district coordinator, NREGA, B.C. Thakur said, "None of the applicants was found eligible for unemployment allowance so far. We are examining other cases and the BDO concerned has been asked to send a report in this regard.' He said the workers would get their payment soon as Rs 1 crore had already been sanctioned for Seraj block, while Rs 1.5 crore more would be sanctioned this year. "We will examine the report and allot work to applicants,' he claimed, and termed RWA's pleas as the one inspired by "local politics'.