 June 27, 2008. Kothuru, District Srikakulam: Villagers march to Mandal Revenue Office to demand an enquiry into National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) work in their villages. In reponse to complaints from several villages, the Committee to Achieve Right to Work asked for Muster Rolls and Pay Orders from the Assistant Project Officer via a Right to Information (RTI) Application. She refused to accept the application People have written to to the NREGS Project Director and the Collector of Srikakulam District, and plan to hold workshops for villagers seeking just and accountable implementation of government programs like NREGA in their villages. Do you want to attend? Write to aid.hyd AT gmail.com. More pictures.
Committe to Achieve Right to Work
(Upadi Hakkula Sadhana Committee)
Upadi Hakkula Sadhana Committee (UHSC) is a platform of Agricultural Workers Unions and progressive Non-Governmental organizations, working in collaboration with the government for the proper implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in North Andhra Districts including Srikakulam District. In this effort, on 18th June, Mr. E. Appa Rao, a Savara tribal working for rights of the tribals and agricultural labours since 4 years, representing UHSC filed an application under RTI with the Assistant Project Officer (APO) of NREGS, Kothuru mandal. He asked for copies of the the Muster Rolls and Pay Orders for NREGS work in Bammidi and Guunabadhra villages. However, she refused to receive the application, in clear violation of NREGA and RTI.
Workers from Guunabadhra, Dsaradhipuram, Kasipuram, Ondrujola, Bammidi, & Metturu have complained to UHSC about the non payment of wages for a period of four weeks. They say that the muster rolls are filled with fraudulent names. In the works of Indiramma Housing program, workers were paid Rs.200/- less that the actual wage components.
Right To Information denied
When Appa Rao tried to communicate this information to the Assistant Project Officer (APO), people expected her to co-operate with him to stop the corruption. Unfortunately her attitude seems to have led the workers to conclude that she supports not them but rather the people involved in the corruption. If the government loses the people's confidence, lawlessness will ensue. We urge you to take the necessary steps to enquire how and why the Assistant Project Officer refused to take the RTI application and also ensure that the people are able to submit their RTI and get the answers in time.
AID supports Nisarga's work in raising awarenss and empowering villagers to utilise government schemes such as NREGA in villages of Srikakulam and Visakha districts. AID is also submitting a letter to the Srikakulam District Collector, expressing our concern and asking how he is handling complaints the people have raised. Together we must work to to ensure that this important government scheme genuinely benefits the
workers who need every day’s wages to survive and have any hopes for
stable family and community life.
|
