Akhil Bhartiya MNREGA Majdoor Union Yatra

The MNREGA is an important step towards realization of the right to work. It is expected to enhance people’s livelihood security on a sustained basis, by developing economic and social infrastructure in rural areas. One of the most distinguishing features of the MNREGA is its approach towards empowering citizens to play an active role in the implementation of employment guarantee schemes, through gram sabha, social aduit, participatory planning and other activities. Various stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots organ stations, are closely monitoring the NREGA. Surveys – booth rapid and extensive – are being carried out to assess its implementation on the ground.

Akhil Bhartiya MNREGA Majdoor Akhil Bhartiya MNREGA Majdoor Yatra has been started from 15th September 2014. The Yatra has already covered Soyirai, Ugapur, Kazipur, Atarsuiya, Karuadeeh, and Basnehta. The Yatra is planning to visit Devli Goriyo, Bariyari, and Basna Khas. The Yatra is led by President, Akhil Bhartiya MNREGA Majdoor Union (ABMMU) Gurucharan Mandela, Vice President ABMMU Vinod Gautam, General Secretary Rashtriya Dalit Mahila Andolan (RDMA) Sumedha Bodh, and Sarita Gautam. The Yatra is fully supported by more than 100 MNREGA workers and their families.

The Agenda & the objective of the Yatra is to have discussion and interaction with the Workers on these issues- MNREGA Status & its implementation; Awareness and advocacy on MNREGA rights, entitlements, rights to information; Accountability and transparency in MNREGA implementation and services; mechanism of redressal, Job Card application, registration and distribution under MNREGA; Future direction and new initiatives of the MNREGA act. The purpose of the Yatra is to visit the Households and listen to the problems related to the MNREGA Workers. The other purposes like making labourer aware of MGNREG scheme, motivating them to demand work and taking care of labourers have failed in their assigned work leading to the raising of this kind of issues.

The following problems came forward:

• Some of the MNREGA Workers don’t have the Job Card
• If they have the Job Card they don’t have the bank accounts.
• Some MNREGA Workers who have the Job Card and bank accounts but they don’t get the 100 days work.

It is clear that maximum of the MNREGA Workers are Dalits, Adivasis and women. The Scheme would prove to be a good opportunity if it is implemented well. But the neglected aspect of the debate on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) relates to the process aspects of the programme. In the process of planning works, organising employment, paying wages or fighting corruption, many valuable activities take place.

The Yatra is walking through the villages and has already registered 12 new MNREGA Majddors and they have issued the Job cards. The Yatra is also looking at the issues of corruption in the MNREGA scheme in these villages. The Yatra would culminate on 19th October 2014 at Pratap Pur. Today the Yatra is going to visit the BDO office to submit the memeorandum.

The Yatra has the following demands:

• The MNREGA labourers should be given 200 days employment.
• The MNREGA labourers should be given the wage of Rs.300 per day.
• The MNREGA labourers should be provided home with the toilets facility.
• The MNREGA labourers should be given 15 days bonus.
• The female MNREGA labourers should be given wages during pregnancy.
• The MNREGA labourers should be given share from the land which is under the Gram Sabha.
• The children of the MNREGA labourers should be given scholarship for higher education.