Rally & Public Hearing at Garhwa, Jharkhand

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Proceedings:

The participants from different panchayats took out the rally from Garhwa railway station with slogans on NREGA. The procession culminated at Nilamber Hall where the public hearing event was conducted. The speakers informed the participants in details about the objective of program and role of government officials in implementing the act properly. They highlighted the slow improvement of the act though the same was enacted since February 2006. The speakers informed about major findings observed through Social Audits on NREGA held in 11 panchayats from six different blocks which are as follows:

• People above poverty line got job cards through their friendly relations with government officials.

• The required photograph in the card was fixed at expenses of card holders.

• Very few applicants got job under the act.

• Corruption observed in providing job cards.

• Government not informed people about rules related to implementation of NREGA. As a result job cards were found empty.

• Work is yet to begin in many villages.

• Government never informed people about compensation rule.

• Some work have been started in different village with haphazard manner and proper selection of work has not been done through “gram sabha”.

• Non implementation of act made people of Dhurki bonded in Bihar State.

• Many people faced with accident while coming back from migration.

The report from Kusdand village under Nagar Untari block:

•  Large scale corruption observed among government officials.

• Only 8 people worked for 3 days and the attendance made for 6 days and 273 card holders didn’t get job.

• 115 Villagers having no cards who were present in the social audit session

• The concerned “gram sewak” used to keep job cards with him.

• No provision made for taking care to children.

• Selection of work was not done properly.

• The member of “nigrani samitee” was not made aware about progress of work.
   

Report from Garbandh village under Nagar Untari block:

• During the time of social audit 153 people were present with no job cards.

• Middle men are misguiding government officials in implementation of act.

• Labour payment was paid @ Rs60/- per day.

• Some of laborer not even gets their payment after completion of job.

• Selection of contractor was not done through “gram sabha” meeting.

• Labour payment was not made properly.

• No facilities like drinking water, first aid etc. not provided at work site.

• Women were not encouraged for job.

• Master roll was not kept at work site.

• The required photograph in the card was fixed by expenses of card holders.

Report from Sonehar village under Dandai block:

• The construction of pond under NREGA was done with the help of tractor and the estimate was for Rs14 lac.

• Selection of work was not done through “gram sabha” meeting.

• 153 Villagers having no cards who were present in the social audit session.

• Some of labourer got Rs50/- per day as labour payment and some of them did not even get their payment.

• Women were paid @ Rs50/- as labour payment.

• Selection of contractor was not done through “gram sabha” meeting.

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

• No facilities like drinking water, first aid etc. not provided at work site.

• As per rule 33 % women were not engaged for work.

• The "gram sewak” not receives application for job.

• Master roll was not kept at work site.

• The required photograph in the card was fixed by expenses of card holders.

Report from Checharia village under Bhaunathpur block:

• People above poverty line got job cards through their friendly relation with government officials.

• Work being stopped after completion of 2/3rd. portion.

• No card holders were engaged in the construction work of well and lastly 5 card holders got job by facing much trouble.

• Labour payment was made to none card holders.

• Selection of work was not done through “gram sabha” meeting.

• Selection of contractor was not done properly through “gram sabha” meeting.

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

• Some of laborer not even gets their payment after completion of job such as Mr. Chandrika Ram and Dhermender Ram.

• As per rule 33 % women were not engaged for work.

• The "gram sewak” not receives application for job.

• Labour payment was made @ Rs60/- per day.

• Master roll was not kept at work site.

• Photography expenses were born by card holders.

Report from Katharkala village under Dhurki block:

• Out of 126 people, 97 people were not provided with work that was present in the rally.

• 500 needy people not provided with job cards.

• People above poverty line got job cards through their friendly relation with government officials.

• 126 people given money for getting job cards.

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

• No facilities like drinking water, first aid etc. not made available at work site.

• As per rule 33 % women were not engaged for work.

• The ‘gram sewak” not receives application for job.

• Labour payment was made @ Rs60/- per day.

• Master roll was not kept at work site.

• Photography expense was born by card holders.

Report from Karke village under Dandai block:

• Difficulties in getting job cards.

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

Report from Meral village under Meral block:

• 17 people got job out of 38 card holder present in the session.

• 37 people got job with out having job card.

• The contractor used to keep the job cards with him.

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

• Report from Lawahikala village under Dandai block:

• No information given to villagers about implementation of the act.

• Villagers are not getting job under the act.

Non of the following invited guests attended the public hearing event:

• Commissioner, Palamau.

• Labour commissioner, Daltonganj

• Deputy Commissioner, Garhwa

• SDO, Garhwa and Nagar Untari

• BDO, Meral, Ramna, Dandai, Nagar Untari, Dhurki and Bhaunathpur

• Labour Inspector, Garhwa & Nagar Untari

Mr Laxman, District convener of Palayit Majdoor Sangh briefed the objective of the public hearing event and illustrated the detailed outcomes of social audit and its major lapses in implementation of the NREGA and part of administrative failure. Further, he invited the members of Judiciary Committee consisting of 4 members of PUCL that aimed to propose the recommendations and provide their valued judgment on the findings of NREGA through the social audit. Also present was the editor of the Daily news paper “Prabhat Khabar and correspondent of “Prashar Bharti".
Following findings were highlighted by the members:

• Arrangement of fake “gram sabha” by the government.

• Non payment of prescribed labour rate.

• The members of “Nigrani Samittee” are not being trained by the government.

• Panchayat Sewaks were not made accountable

Further, the Judiciary Committee decided to send the findings of Social Audit conducted on NREGA and a 14 point memorandum to the Honorable Governor of Jharkhand, the Chief Minister of the state, Central and State Union Ministers of Rural Development, Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, Central and State Commissioner of NREGA, Supreme Court Commissioner on NREGA, New Delhi and other eminent scholars on the subject who make their advocacy at State and National level for taking their consideration on the issues.

Immediate Impact:

• In Karke Panchayat the BDO of Dandai block announced labour payment @ Rs73/- along with immediate supply of job cards.

• In Sonehara Panchayat the BDO, Dandai has sanctioned the allotment of 20 wells for women SHGs.

• In Makri Panchayat, the BDO of Dhurki block has assured to make enquiry against corruption.

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