Barmer women find new ways to ensure proper implementation of NREGA

By Bharat Dogra

There is a widespread feeling in the villages of India that when the national rural employment guarantee scheme is implemented properly as per the provisions of its law called NREGA, it is very helpful, particularly for women. However a frequent complaint of people is that it is not being implemented properly at many places. Hence many organizations are working all over the country to try to secure better implementation of NREGA.

In this context the experience of a women’s organization in the desert district of Barmer (Rajasthan) is very interesting. This organization called Mahila Sangathan Barmer has been working for a long time to ensure that more rural women here are able to get NREGA employment. In terms of fulfilling various procedures like placing demand for work, obtaining receipts and taking follow-up actions this mahila sangathan (women’s organization) has been very active and has been involved in securing employment for nearly 4700 rural women.

In the course of these efforts the mahila sangthan has gained a new insight that while the primary justification of NREGA is for providing employment and income support, there is also an additional important benefit of this employment law being realized when women living in remote desert houses are able to come together regularly for several days. They meet each other, make new friendships, share their worries and concerns. This has helped these women to improve their mental health while helping to reduce their pent-up tensions.

Thus as Anita Soni, coordinator of mahila sangthan says, NREGA is good for livelihoods but it is also good for mental health. This may well be more of a reality in this desert area where houses tend to be located at greater distances, but perhaps to a lesser extent this can be true in other areas as well.

This women’s organization was quick to realize this additional potential as it had already been working on a program to improve mental health supported by MIH. This program in turn started, Anita Soni says, when an increase of suicides by women was reported in these villages and it was considered necessary to start a program for reducing this disturbing trend and for improving mental health.

The mahila sangathan has about 2000 members. Group leaders from various villages have monthly meetings in Barmer town.

These meetings and being part of a larger organization of sympathetic women increases the confidence of women that when in difficulty they can get help from here. This also creates a deeper sense of solidarity with each other and with the sangathan.

The mahila sangathan has also been working more specifically for reducing domestic violence and in fact for reducing all kinds of violence against women. Earlier some women were silently enduring such violence.

This resulted in accumulation of distress, pain and tensions within them which worsened the situation. Recognizing this reality, the mahila sangathan started a ‘chuppi todo abhiyan’ or break the silence campaign. As a result of this when women started sharing their problems with their friends, their worries and distress decreased and at the same time the collective strength of the mahila sangthan could be used to reduce the problems of these women.

There has been a lot of discrimination against widows in these villages and they are barred from wearing more colorful dresses and ornaments even if they are of a relatively young age. Such discriminatory practices have also been challenged by the mahila sangathan and subsequently these are being reduced.

The mahila sangathan on the basis of its observations has found that alcoholism among men has been a leading cause of violence against women as well as of several other problems. Hence one of the challenges it wants to take up more in the near future is to reduce the increasing menace of alcoholism.

One of the important gains of the work of the mahila sangathan has come from its ability to integrate economic and social issues, livelihood and social reform issues, health and social interaction issues. This has helped the mahila sangathan to achieve significant gains, and such insights from its work can be useful for other social movements and organizations as well.

---

The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine, and A Day in 2071

Comments

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

'Big blow to crores of farmers’: Opposition mounts against US–India trade deal

By A Representative Farmers’ organisations and political groups have sharply criticised the emerging contours of the US–India trade agreement, warning that it could severely undermine Indian agriculture, depress farm incomes and open the doors to genetically modified (GM) food imports in violation of domestic regulatory safeguards.

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Why Russian oil has emerged as the flashpoint in India–US trade talks

By N.S. Venkataraman* In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.

Trade pacts with EU, US raise alarms over farmers, MSMEs and policy space

By A Representative A broad coalition of farmers’ organisations, trade unions, traders, public health advocates and environmental groups has raised serious concerns over India’s recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, warning that the deals could have far-reaching implications for livelihoods, policy autonomy and the country’s long-term development trajectory. In a public statement issued, the Forum for Trade Justice described the two agreements as marking a “tectonic shift” in India’s trade policy and cautioned that the projected gains in exports may come at a significant social and economic cost.

From Puri to the State: How Odisha turned the dream of drinkable tap water into policy

By Hans Harelimana Hirwa, Mansee Bal Bhargava Drinking water directly from the tap is generally associated with developed countries where it is considered safe and potable. Only about 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority located in Europe and North America, and a few in Asia and Oceania. Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Singapore have the highest-quality tap water, followed by Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, Australia, the UK, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor* Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.

Search This Blog