Our VV-PACS Community Correspondent, Navita Devi, reports from Ahimachak village, in Bagicha Tola of Katihar district in Bihar, on how the village's labourers are still awaiting compensation under M.N.R.E.G.A eight months after completion of the work allotted to them. Spokespersons for the affected community say that such irregularities are just the tip of the iceberg - most of the problems stem from the fact that labourers are completely unaware of the stipulations of the Act and are therefore unable to campaign for their rights as guaranteed by the law. In this particular instance, labourers went through the proper channels, submitted their passbooks and signed all necessary documents to procure work under the MGNREGA, but were ultimately stymied by the administration's lack of commitment to take the process to completion. As a result of this, many have yet to receive their passbooks back from the authorities, leave alone being awarded their promised payment.
While the scheme itself means to provide for the common man, its implementation is most parts of the country has been woefully lacking. Beneficiaries are ignorant of the numerous stipulations under the scheme and authorities are only too willing to take advantage of this deep-rooted problem.
CALL TO ACTION: Call the Council Secretary of Ahimachak village, on +91-9931274175, and pressurize him into awarding swift and fair compensation to the labourers employed under MNREGA.
About the Partnership: The Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme and Video Volunteers have come together to create the Community Correspondents Network. The videos generated by the network will be able to highlight voices from the margins, providing skills to social communicators to provide advocacy tools to community based organisations.
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