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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | NREGA workers set to get better tools by Anindo Dey

NREGA workers set to get better tools by Anindo Dey

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published Published on Jul 30, 2010   modified Modified on Jul 30, 2010


Ergonomics is no longer the privilege of those working in plush offices. If things fall in place, Rajasthan may be the first state to take it to the absolute grassroots -- at the NREGA worksite.

In a pathbreaking move, the MIT Institute of Design in Pune, under the National Knowledge Commission, has taken the plunge for fine-tuning traditional tools used for digging and moving earth specially in NREGA so as to make work more comfortable for workers.

Three basic implements used in rural road development and other public work, namely pick-axe' (gainti), grub hoe' (phawda) and metal basket' (tagada) to carry on head load of earth bricks were selected for design improvisation.

Shades at sites, to help lactating mothers who bring their children to worksites, keep them safe were also improvised upon. Currently, 35 sets of these improvised tools are being tested at various districts in the state before a final decision on their use is taken.

"These three are very traditional tools that have been used for some time. But there has never been any centralised improvisation on their design. Rather, at the village level these tools have undergone many modifications, sometimes making their handles bigger or smaller, using various devices to fix the handle to the equipment which have made them less efficient," says Arvind Merchant, director academics, MIT Institute of Design, Pune.

"The idea was also to make it a tool for women empowerment as most of the workers in NREGA are women. But there has been no standard. For example, ideally a person should not carry more than 40% of her weight on her head but here we find women lifting 40 kg just to ensure work finishes fast. These are the areas that needed intervention," he added.

MIT plunge into the issue through the National Knowledge Commission came after many NGOs working in the state expressed the need for helping rural population to better use NREGS. Later, the state government, about a year back, also intervened and showed an interest in the project but things could not make headway.

But now the government has again opened its dialogue. Professors of the MIT Pune met officials of rural development department on Thursday.

"We conducted many field visits and came up with observations. For example, the phawda needed a bigger handle else the work load come down heavy on the worker. The gainti and the tagada also show some 20 shapes come up from which we have selected a few and sent it for field tests. The tagada that we though was the best is at use in Kerala and is made from tyres. We adopted it," added Merchant.

But there may be still some more time before these prototypes are found in rural Rajasthan. Sources revealed that officials of the rural development department have shown interest but have sought to look into more traditional designs of them and are also looking into the possibility as to how easy would the manufacture of such tools be.

"May be at a later date, we would have a meeting with the local manufacturers to see whether they would be able to produce these tools if they are used here," the source added.


The Times of India, 30 July, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/NREGA-workers-set-to-get-better-tools/articleshow/6234708.cms
 

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