NREGA workers allege political interference in work allocation

NREGA workers, under the banner of the NREGA Workers’ Union, held a demonstration in front of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) on Thursday to press for their current demands. The workers also submitted a memorandum of their issues to Deputy Commissioner Rahul. NREGA workers from various parts of the district participated in the protest.

During his address, Ranjit Singh Shakri, district president of the Union, said that the provision under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005, which guarantees 14 days of work to each worker, is not being implemented in the villages. He added that the Union had already informed the administration that NREGA workers from Sursing, Narli, Dialpur, Thathian Mahantan, Kirian, Van, Bhojian, Thatha and other villages had reported being denied the full 14 days of work in a month.

Due the scorching heat, Shakri stressed the need to prepare work estimates keeping in view the workers’ capacity under such weather conditions to prevent any mishaps. He also demanded that adequate arrangements be made at work sites to protect workers from the heat, including provision of cold, clean drinking water. Additionally, he stressed the availability of first-aid kits equipped with necessary medicines, bandages and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to treat dehydration.

Other Union leaders, including Sukhwinder Kaur, Pawandeep Kaur, Badal Singh, Aroor Singh and Daljit Singh, also spoke at the event. They highlighted the problems faced by workers in the villages and alleged that undue interference by ruling party leaders at the village level was causing workers to be denied work according to the prescribed norms.