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NREGA survey in Mathurapur |
Satabdi Das, a software engineer in Kolkata who volunteers with AID, reports from a village on the state of awareness about the Rural Employment Guarantee.
When volunteers of AID Kolkata visited Mathurapur Block of 24 S Paraganas , West Bengal, we heard first hand how the villagers struggled without reliable access to health, education and livelihood resources.
Dropout rates are high, employment low, nearest health facility is 16 km down main road and none of the villages is on the main road. Many villagers seek construction work in Kolkata and still don't have income year round. AID Kolkata along with Samaj Unnanayn Kendra, has started an awareness program on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in thirteen villages across three Gram Panchayats of Mathurapur - Khari, Radhakantapur and Gilerchhat.
We surveyed the villagers and found that few knew much about NREGA. Many families had job cards, yet few actually got jobs, or full wages. We talked to the Panchayat offices - in one case their records showed that they had given more jobs than actually villagers got. Some were not well aware of how to allot the jobs. After the rice harvest, villagers will need work again.
We plan to hold formal meetings with panchayat and the self-help groups, arrange for street plays and group discussions until villagers are able to ensure clear accounting and allotment of jobs.
Watch this space for more NREGA-related AID projects. |
