Organising Rural Workers under NREGA
The new legislation passed soon after the founding of the NTUI was viewed by us as a critical organising tool in rural areas that would incorporate the fundamental principle of NTUI of building a single union in a sector or industry. This legislation, despite its problems, provided a framework, for the first time in the history of Indian labour legislation, for regulation of work in rural areas. The Secretariat closely worked with affiliates organising rural workers and developed a handbook on the act and conducted two national level workshops along with several state level workshops and meetings to flag off the strategy. The rural organising strategy paid off in several occasions. The victories won were historic but the struggles were against all odds.
NTUI has also joined the Right to Food campaign Secretariat and is one of the key organisations working within the Campaign to further the strategy for proper implementation of the NREGA across the country.