More than 150 persons of migrant forum in Meral Block have been provided job under NREGP scheme.

Sheela Devi, Shanti Devi and Sarita Devi of Vandana Mahila Vikas Samiti of Hurhi village of Meral Block started a refreshment stall at local market. They started their business from Rs.500/- each in last year. The group was able to get loan under Swarna Jyani Swarojgar Yojna. They expanded their business by getting loan from the group to the tune of Rs.5000/- each. Now, their weekly turn over is Rs.3000/- and weekly net income is Rs.1000/-. With this they have stopped migrating in search for livelihood. They send their children to school now and are able to invest more capital in agriculture sector.

Bipti Devi of Kranti Mahila Vikas Samiti of Chriya, Gonda started pig rearing last year. She took a loan of Rs.2000 from the group to start this business. She bought two female and one male piglet from local market in Oct’05. Now the number of piglet has become ten. With this, she has been able to manage her livelihood sitting at home. Along with it, her social status in the community increased and she is now an inspiration other women from same Bhuiya caste (earlier outcaste). Another impact of this intervention was her increased awareness about different government programs. She now regularly goes to the bank and attends different seminars and workshop organized by AID.

Mr. Asharfi Mahto is a native of village Makuna under Meral block of Garhwa district. The village Makuna is 13 km far away from district head quarter, but none of the Government official able to reach this place and the villager unable to get benefit from the agriculture department. Due to effort of project team in Rabi season District Agriculture Department provided wheat seed at subsidised rate through the project agriculture scientist. They did front line demonstration programme. The result of this programme was good and the production of the new seed has been comparatively better than their local variety.

In Birbal village of Dhurki block, people suffered from lack of irrigation sources. With the intervention of migrant activist and the SHG members, the local authority sanctioned a scheme for construction of irrigation lift point in the village. It not only gave employment to the local people, but would also provide constant irrigation sources for their agricultural crop. The total cost of the project was Rs.2,60,000/- and around 25 people go employment in this program. The lift irrigation project would be able to irrigate around 300 acres.

Mahendra Ram (40) of Salsadih of Nagar Untari migrated to Dehri-on-Son along with other villagers for paddy harvesting. At the workplace, he felt serious pain in his chest and demanded medication. But the landlord didn’t take any action to his repeated request. As a result, Mahendra passed away leaving behind his wife and 3 children. The villagers took the issue and they demanded compensation from the landlord. They also met the local authorities to demand their right. After listening to their plight, the local authority supported the bereaved family with some money and the landlord was asked to pay for the funeral expenses of the deceased.

In Meral block, member’s of migrant forum, SHG & Gram sabha members demanded their right to food through PDS system. Around 500 people marched to the district head quarter and approached the authorities to increase the quota for food distribution under the scheme and check corruption regarding food distribution. The local BDO also helped the people to demand their rights from the government. Among the other demands, provision of adequate amount of kerosene oil was stressed. The government took immediate action and started a mobile campaign to make people aware about their entitlement from the PDS. The concerned dealer in Meral was also asked to provide the required amount of kerosene oil to the card holders.