MGNREGS: Strategy
AF has been collaborating with the Government and playing a facilitation role in proper implementation of MGNREGS in AF’s 230 project villages. As part of the strategy AF has organized Village, Mandal and District level Awareness Campaigns to laborers and farmers. The objectives of the Awareness Campaigns are as follows:
- To create awareness on the rights and entitlements of the labourers in MGNREGP.
- To bring movement in Government functionaries for proper operationalisation of the scheme and promote transparency amongst all concerned stakeholders and public at large.
- To ensure effective implementation of the programme in the district.
Village level awareness campaigns:
Awareness campaigns were conducted in each village by AF staff involving
concerned government officials like Programme Officer (PO), Technical Assistant
and field assistants. Awareness was given on availing 100 days of employment by
each family ensuring on job facilities, timely sanction of works, proper
implementation, timely payments etc.
Mandal level awareness campaigns:
Mandal level awareness campaigns were organized in 8 mandal headquarters
covering 2500 men labour and 1500 women labour. These campaigns were conducted
during the month of February 2008.
Dr. Y.V.Malla Reddy, Director, AF; Mr. G. Gopal, Project Director, DWMA; Mr. K.S.
Gopal, APUHHC President; concerned Govt. officials - Local political leaders –
like MPP, MPTC, ZPTC, Sarpanch, attended these campaigns as guest speakers and
shared their views.
In each campaign, a massive rally was organized with placards demanding the
rights and entitlements of labour under NREGA. Exhibitions was also arranged
with posters, banners and photos which gave very good awareness to the labourers.
The cultural team enacted role plays and sang songs on REGS.
The guest speakers explained about the rights and entitlements of labour under
MGNREGS. They emphasized that REGS is a boon to the labour families. They felt
that REGS is very much needed for the districts like Anantapur, where farmers
are committing suicides. The speakers appealed to the labourers and advised to
take up the works that will be useful to small and marginal farmers. The labour
works should include land development, productivity increase, repair of old
tanks, desiltation of tanks, horticulture etc. It was proposed to form a village
level committee with educated youth and take the responsibility for
implementation of the programme. Dr.Y.V. Malla Reddy gave assurance to the Govt.
officials that necessary technical support and cooperation will be extended
through AF staff for effective implementation of the REGS in order to ensure 100
days of employment to each family in 8 mandals of the Project Area. The Project
Director, DWMA welcomed the support from AF. He gave assurance to the gathering
that he would take all necessary measures for effective implementation of the
REGS.
District level awareness campaigns:-
AF, along with some other NGOs like APPS, REDs and APUHAC (Andhra Pradesh
Upadhi Hakkula Amalu Committee) organized a district level awareness campaign on
2-12-07 at Lalithakala Parishad, Anantapur and Dr. Y.V. Malla Reddy, Director,
AF, and Mr. Gopal, Director CEC (Centre for Environment Concerns) took iniative
and organized the campaigns. The Government functionaries at state level and
district level extended their cooperation in making the campaign a grand
success.
Nearly 1500 labourers from AF Project villages and another 1500 from Project
villages of other NGOs from the different parts of the district participated in
the campaign. A massive rally was organized, demanding effective implementation
of MGNREGS with all rights and entitlements of labour under MGNREGS. The rally
attracted the attention of thousands of onlookers. The rally was followed by a
public meeting at the Lalithakala Parishad and many eminent people participated
and delivered speeches, emphasizing on right to work, utilization of 100 days
employment, basic amenities at the work spot and role of Government
functionaries and labour in effective implementation of APREGS. The speakers
from various sectors include Mr. K.R. Venugopal, Retired Collector, EX-Secretary
of PMO as the Chief Guest, Mr.Minar Pimple, Asia Millennium Campaign, Mr.
K.Sreenivasulu, EX-MP, Dr. Y.V. Malla Reddy, Director – AF, Mr. K. S. Gopal,
Director, CEC and convenor APUHAC, Mr. Murali, Director – MGNREGS, Ms. Bhanuja,
Director, REDS, Mr.P. Balaram, APPS, and Mr.Jeevan Kumar, Human Rights. The
important messages/awareness given by the various speakers is as follows -
- The labourers must be the main actors in protecting their rights and
accessing the benefits in full. The concept of living wage of at least
Rs.150/- should be demanded in place of a minimum wage of Rs.80/- which will
enable them to live with some human dignity, medical facilities and education
to their children. If the labourers could raise their voice and concerns at
village level, then the NGOs and CSOs would be in a better position to take
their demands to district and state level authorities.
- The labourers should demand 100 days of work and get it. They should
submit their job applications in time and take receipts from the concerned
officials. They should also approach the mandal level offices for timely
sanction of works and timely payments.
- The labour should demand on-job facilities like drinking water, shade,
crèche etc.
- In order to create food security to poor labour families, different types
of grains should be distributed in sufficient quantities through PDS as part
of their wages and the remaining amount should be paid in cash. Wage payment
procedures should be to the convenience and needs of the wage seekers.
- Mr. Murali, Director, MGNREGS, acknowledged that there are still many
problems that need to be solved and listed the actions being taken to solve
the problems. According to him 780 crores worth of works were implemented in
30000 villages in AP State wherein 5 lakh 72 thousand labourers have worked.
He explained the highlights and shortfalls in detail about the implementation
of MGNREGS.
- Some of the labour representatives also spoke in the meeting and explained their problems, demands and finally gave some suggestions for proper implementation of the REGS. One of the important suggestion was that the implementation responsibility should be given to local CBOs.
