Right to Work

	A workshop on right to information in progress
	A public hearing in progress

Opportunity to work is prerequisite for livelihood of any person. Inan area like Bundelkhand, opportunity to work for vast rural masses is severely limited given its peculiar geographical location and resourcelessness.

Parmarth started addressing livelihood issues since its beginning. Later it was realised that working on livelihood issues would not make much breakthrough unless larger issue of the people’s right to work was addressed in totality. The impetus was provided when the Government launched National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The scheme guarantees 100 days work to any villager interested in doing manual work.

But the villagers had to be mobilised, sensitised and made aware of the provisions of NREGS so that they could benefit from it. Parmarth is doing the same ever since NREGS was implemented in Jalaun district.

The interventions began with the launch of a campaign called ago Aur Jagao Abhiyan (wake and wake up others campaign). Under this cycle yatra (journey with a specific purpose), covering 86 villages and 8,500 villagers, was organised from May 18 to 18, 2006. The yatra provided information on NREGS and its provisions through meetings and distribution of learning material. The yatra culminated at Orai in the presence of Commissioner of Jhansi division, key district and block officials and over 650 members of Pahuj Vikas Manch. Through this campaign 856 applications were submitted for registration under NREGS, and 443 job cards and 198 BPL cards were distributed.

A Rojgar Haq Yatra (employment right yatra) was organised from June 15 to 22, 2006, covering six districts of Bundelkhand. Information was provided on NREGS provisions and also on how the Dalit community groups, women and disabled could get work under the scheme. During the yatra, status of NREGS implementation was analysed in 16 Gram Panchayats. Based on the findings of the analysis, it was made possible to identify and understand challenges in the implementation of the scheme and seek future direction of interventions.

Again, on October 2, 2006, a district level demonstration was organised at the office of the District Magistrate to press for implementation of drought specific schemes under NREGS. The demonstration was organised through collective leadership of various CBOs promoted by Parmarth. Together nearly 150 women and men participated in the demonstration.

Additionally, Parmarth has facilitated preparation of micro plans under NREGS for various gram panchayats and submitted the plans through gram sabhas to respective block development officers.