Our Daily Wages

Summary

This initiative under MGNREGA was the first of its kind in the district of Baloda Bazar that aimed at ensuring delayed payment which was pending for more than one and half year for securing livelihoods. Beneficiaries of 7 villages were identified for implementing this innovative initiative. Social mobilization processes, home visits were adopted and mass public campaigns about the initiative were carried out not only to generate awareness about various rules and regulation of NREGA, specifying specially about payments but also to ensure active participation of local communities. Considering the socioeconomic situation of the beneficiaries, we ensured participation of about 90% per cent of the families spread across 5 selected villages. Active involvement from start to end of VDC and SHG members were significant.

Need for the intervention

An integrated approach for demanding the delayed payment was necessary not only to focus on the payment issue but also to ensure to restore the confidence of marginal community and to raise their voice for their rights. With this innovative integrated approach, it was expected that the awaited wage earners will get their awaited payments and justice.

The intervention

After a detail meeting with suffered beneficiaries, it was decided to socially mobilize the inhabitants of the villages on the initiative along with taking up intense awareness campaigns disseminating right-based provisions under MGNREGA. Since the potential beneficiaries were either illiterate or less literate. This initiative has attracted the attention of unpaid wage earners from neighboring other villages.

After surveys of the villages, we meet the beneficiaries who have not received payments for more than one and half years. Based on this list of workers was prepaid in details, how many days they have worked, checked the job cards since when they have not received the payments. This process was started in the month of March 2017. This campaign was supported widely by newly formed VDC. Had dialogues with sachiv, Rojgar shayak, sarpanch as expected there was no response from them at beginning, later on they kept on saying that they have not received any payments from district itself. Then this was followed at janpad panchayat level but initially there was no response from them. Even local MLA was followed during his visit to block, applications were accepted but there was no response at this level also. At this stage people started to lose their hopes and patience since MLA also didn’t heard their voice. Simultaneously KALP was keeping close watch on each step by guiding and supporting them. When studied NREGA site which was showing that NREGA payments of these five villages have already been done to the beneficiaries. Next day village post office was contacted where it was told to beneficiaries that till now money has not reached to the post office. But when details of NREGA site was shared with the postmaster which shows that payment has already been received by the beneficiaries. Seeing the truth has come out village post master promised to look into the matter within a week.

After week all the beneficiaries went to meet post-master who did not meet them and was absconding for more than 2/3 months. So again, beneficiaries contacted block janpad, where again janpad also said that payments have already been done. As the time was passing so as the patience of the villagers.

At last one day all villagers from five villages planned and trapped the post master at his home. At this movement beneficiaries were so angry they wanted to beat post master but intervention of KALP saved the post master. Seeing the heat of the movement and pressure of beneficiaries for giving the last warning the post master promised to do the payments within a month. Under the guidance of KALP beneficiaries again went to janpad panchayat meet the concern NREGA officials and also gave written application to CEO. Sensing the intensity NREGA officials went and meet the concern post officials, came to know that in spite of realse of money no payment were done to beneficiaries. Here they said money has been released from our side now follow up has to be done at district level. Hence it was planned to meet district officials even to contact collector on this movement. At district head post master was contacted he asked for some time and requested to give list to sub post office in kasdol. The list was given as guided by him to sub post office of kasdol. He done the payments of balance beneficiaries. On the other hand villagers were rasing pressure on village post master for their payments at last father of the concern post master promised to repay all the beneficiaries within a month. The progress of action was monitored at different levels.

At last in the month March 2018 all 350 families of 7 villages received their payment of Rs Total Rs. 8,20,220/- employment and delayed payments have been done to 350 families i.e., after one year!!

Challenges

The real challenges were to get the details of work done, month and numbers of days they work from the beneficiaries as there was long gap since they have worked.