Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Workers demand increased budgetary allocations and timely payment on the 1st day of MGNREGA dharna

Workers demand increased budgetary allocations and timely payment on the 1st day of MGNREGA dharna

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Aug 2, 2022   modified Modified on Aug 2, 2022

-Press release by NREGA Sangharsh Morcha dated August 2, 2022

Hundreds of NREGA workers from 15+ states gathered for a three day protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi called under the banner of NREGA Sangharsh Morcha. The crucial role played by NREGA in supporting the rural population was highlighted during the pandemic, with work demand shooting up as lakhs of migrant workers streamed home. Even now, two years into the pandemic, NREGA’s demand remains high. And yet, NREGA is under attack by the government. Consistently decreasing budgetary allocations, wage payments delayed for months, negligible compensation paid for delays, and woefully low wages plague NREGA. These issues are widespread across the country.

The first day of protest was marked by the singing of protest songs, testimonies given by individual NREGA workers from different states, and enthusiastic sloganeering with some old, famous NREGA slogans: “Har haath ko kaam do, kaam ka poora daam do”, “Ladenge, Jeetenge!”, “Hum apna adhikaar maangte, nahin kisi se bheekh maangte”.

Anuradha Talwar from Pashchim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti shared about the Morcha’s demand of increasing the NREGA wage to Rs 600 a day, which roughly equals the monthly salary of the lowest paid government employees as per the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. She also highlighted the situation of West Bengal, which suffers from the worst wage delays in the country – more than Rs. 2600 crores are yet to be paid over just the last 2 FYs, and no payments have been made since December 2021.

Workers from West Bengal, Telangana Bihar, and UP all highlighted the issues of delays in payments and unmet demand. Many of them have been demanding work since April with no response. They have also not received the unemployment allowance they are legally supposed to receive. The newly introduced NMMS application for marking attendance is causing much distress to workers across the country.

Political leaders also came to the event and expressed teir solidarity with the mazdoors. Binoy Viswam, CPI MP from Kerala, expressed his support of the ‘jal, jangal, zameen’ issue, and demanded the central govt. answer the mazdoors. Hannan Mollah, 8 time MP from CPI (M) in Howrah, and the senior leader of the All Indian Kisan Sabha, spoke about the common issues of farmers and NREGA labourers. He called the government an antifarmer, anti-mazdoor government, and gave a call for unity of movements. Yogendra Yadav also joined the protest and expressed his solidarity with the cause. Annie Raja of NFIW was also present.

Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh of MKSS spoke passionately about the deeper issues underlying the eroson of NREGA. They emphasised the need to come together and demand greater accountability from the government, and also raised issues of freedom of speech and the right to protest.

The day ended with plans to send state-wise delegations to each state’s opposition parties on the next two days of the dharna.

For further details, please contact:

Abhay (9845371493), Anuradha (9433002064), Apurva (9313759050), Laavanya (9910746743), Richa (9452232663) or write to nrega.sangharsh.morcha@gmail.com

Kindly click here to access the PDF version of the press release. 

Image Courtesy: MKSS India


Press release by NREGA Sangharsh Morcha dated August 2, 2022


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close