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In a powerful protest on September 28, 2024, two hundred NREGA workers gathered in front of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, condemning the continuous attacks on their rights and the systematic dismantling of NREGA by the Modi government. Organized by Jharkhand NREGA Watch and NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, the demonstration saw workers from Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal demanding the proper implementation of the NREGA law – timely payment of wages, guaranteed employment, and work without exclusion. Inspired by the life of Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary, Praful Linda of the Adivasi Adhikar Manch called on the workers to stand against the anti-poor, pro-capitalist central government. Representatives from Jharkhand Mazdoor Sangathan and Jharkhand Kisan Parishad also joined the dharna in support of the workers.
The workers are demanding the immediate reversal of anti-worker technologies like the online attendance system (NMMS) and the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS). Maheshwari from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, recounted how workers in her panchayat are being denied their wages due to NMMS, often being told that their names were not on the muster roll despite completing the work. The workers claim that these technologies are causing delays in wage payments, denial of work, and consequently weakening the scheme.
A serious issue raised was the complete halt of NREGA work in West Bengal since December 2021. Accusing the state of corruption in implementation, the central government has withheld NREGA funds for West Bengal under Section 27 of the NREGA Act. Consequently, thousands of workers in West Bengal have not received wages for work completed before the suspension, nor have they received any work under NREGA for nearly three years. Ambarish from Purulia district, boycotting the central government for punishing workers for corruption, demanded that NREGA work should continue despite the investigation into alleged corruption.
On the other hand, in Jharkhand, in clear violation of the law, JCB machines are used in NREGA works, and middlemen snatch more than half the wages of the workers. Yet, there is a complete lack of political will to put an end to these practices, leaving workers trapped between middlemen and an insensitive state. The workers demanded that the government should work towards strengthening social audits and grievance redressal to combat corruption in MNREGA and ensure the independence of these processes to enhance people's accountability. With state elections approaching, one thing is clear: the workers' vote will go to those who strengthen MNREGA.
The workers also raised the issue that despite their repeated attempts to engage in dialogue with the Minister of Rural Development, they have only received broken promises. The most recent disappointment came just last week when a scheduled meeting on September 24, 2024, was abruptly cancelled without any reason given. This meeting was supposed to include representatives from NREGA workers' organizations across the country, but only one out of the six proposed worker representatives was granted permission by the Ministry of Rural Development. This is further evidence of the ministry's reluctance to listen to the voices of the affected workers.
Under increasing poverty and unemployment, the importance of NREGA has further increased. For many workers and their families, NREGA is not just a source of employment but a means of survival. The message from rural workers to the central and state governments is loud and clear: NREGA work at a fair wage is our right, we will not let it go!
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