Thousands of tribals rally against paper-KYC burden in Madhya Pradesh

By A Representative
Under the banner of Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (Awakened Tribal Dalit Organization), thousands of tribals in Barwani (Madhya Pradesh) organized a rally and a public meeting with the slogans "Stop the assault of paper-KYC! Stop the attack on ration, employment, education, and pension!". A memorandum addressing the problems of paperwork that tribals have been facing for a long time was submitted in the name of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav. Additionally, memorandums were also given to the district's MLAs, Shri Rajan Mandloi and Shri Bala Bachchan.
Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were invited to this program, but despite assurances, they did not attend. Expressing sharp questions about the absence of the MPs, the tribals declared that they would remind the MPs of their responsibility with full rights so that they raise this issue in Delhi.
Nasari Bai Ningwal stated that rights like ration, employment, and pension are being snatched away due to the demand for KYC and paperwork for the central government's schemes. Harsingh Jamre said that the government has made Aadhaar mandatory, but even today, many people have not been able to get Aadhaar. Hamjiya Rawat of the Tribal Students' Organization reported that birth certificates are being demanded for children's school admissions, which were never made in rural areas. Due to this, education is being seriously affected.
In the program, the angered tribals demanded that if the government needs so many documents and KYC, then it should first create its system in every village. In the current situation, an additional burden is being placed on the poor, due to which they are being deprived of the schemes.
Ration is a legal right under the National Food Security Act, 2013, but families without KYC are being threatened with the termination of their ration. In Parliament, the government has admitted that about 15.2 million individuals in Madhya Pradesh have not yet completed their KYC. The government has stopped the ration of millions of children and newly eligible individuals, which should be immediately removed.
The delay in wage payment under the Employment Guarantee Scheme is forcing thousands of people to migrate. This year, about 8400 children have dropped out of school in Barwani district. Hiralal Thakur said that the government has fixed the minimum wage rate at ₹466 per day, but only ₹261 per day is being given in the Employment Guarantee Scheme. Due to this, tribals are being paid less than the minimum wage.
In the program, former MP candidate Porlal Khärte drew attention to the irregularities in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister's Housing Scheme) and health services. Barwani MLA Rajan Mandloi assured that he would raise the problems of the rural education system with the Madhya Pradesh government.
In the memorandum sent to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the tribals demanded the implementation of the Minimum Support Price under the Farmers' Commission. Along with this, demands were also raised to improve the minimum wage rate in the Employment Guarantee Scheme and to rectify the discrepancies in the revenue records under the Swamitva Yojana (Ownership Scheme).

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