Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane
Hike in MGNREGA Wages sought
16 March 2011, Bangalore: Nearly 6,000 landless agricultural workers from 15 districts staged a protest here on Tuesday to against the alleged widespread anomalies, shoddy implementation and corruption plaguing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the State.
They expressed their displeasure about the State Government’sreluctance to pay them wages as per the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act. They termed the present wages fixed at Rs. 125 a day as “unconstitutional”.They said the State government had failed to ensure that MGNREGA workers have job cards and bank accounts. Boards with information of ongoing works have not been put up at the work sites and information on projects taken up under the MGNREGA are not posted on its website.
The protesters said the ombudsmen appointed by the district administration are not monitoring the implementation of the programme.
Source: The Hindu
Memorandum submitted to Ministry of Rural Development
A memorandum was submitted to Dr. C P Joshi, Minister, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India on 28 September 2010 on the failure to implement NREGA by District Administration and Flagrant Violation of Labour Rights in Raichur, Karnataka seeking immediate intervention.
- Background:* Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane (GCKS), a union of agriculture workers in Karnataka, has lodged several complaints at various levels on the gross violation of the provisions of the NREGA and none of these have till date been redressed.
• Failure to provide work despite application for work: Workers in the following talukas in Raichur district, Karnataka have applied for work over two months ago and have not been provided any work. The provision of getting work within 15 days of demanding work has been grossly violated. In Jegarkal, Marched and Gunjhalli Panchayats of Raichur Taluk, workers were forcibly asked to sign on blank paper stating that they do not want work. In Bayapur, Nagaral, Amdihal, Gejjalgatta, Anwari, Gudnal and in Santhekellue of Lingsugur Taluk, the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) has written to the workers that work will be given when the Panchayath gets ready to give work. In Manvi and Deodurga Talukas job applications are being rejected by the PDOs on flimsy grounds.
The details are as under:
| Taluka | Panchayat | No. of workers | Date of application |
| Raichur | Bichal | 350 | 15.2.2010 |
| Raichur | Mamdapur | 200 | 12.5.2010 |
| Raichur | J. Venkatapur | 100 | 12.5.2010 |
| Raichur | J. Venkatapur | 30 | 17.7.2010 |
| Raichur | Jegarkal | 50 | 9.6.2010 |
| Raichur | Gunjhalli | 100 | 8.6.2010 |
| Manvi | Kurdi | 40 | 20.7.2010 |
| Sindnur | E J Hosahalli | 223 | 14.6.2010 |
| Deodurga | Mustur | 190 | 24.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Goudur | 100 | 25.6.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Hunnur | 42 | 24.6.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Ankushdoddi | 28 | 7.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Anehossur | 63 | 24.6.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Gorebal | 75 | 21.6.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Bannigola | 50 | 9.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Guntagola | 36 | 3.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Mavinbhavi | 50 | 21.6.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Mavinbhavi | 50 | 7.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Nagral | 30 | 27.7.2010 |
| Lingsugur | Narkaldinni | 65 | 11.8.2010 |
• Failure to provide unemployment allowance: The above workers have also filed applications for unemployment allowance to the Executing Officer (EO). Not one worker has been paid unemployment allowance though the mandatory 15 days after job application is long over.
• Delayed payment of wages: Payment of wages have been delayed without exception with delays extending upto 2 months. When the workers protested, the DS and EO directed the Panchayats to make the payment. Cheques were issued to the bank and workers were asked to take their payments from the bank. When the workers went to collect their dues, they were informed by the bank that there in no money in the panchayat account. The CEO, DS and the EO are yet to take action on this. Also in the same taluka, in the B.R.Gunda, H.Jadaldinni, Veergoat panchayats workers are yet to be paid and the EO and CEO have not taken any action despite repeated complaints by the union members. In Salgunda and Gorebal panchayats of Sindnur taluka workers have not received wages for many months.
The details are as under:
| Taluka | Panchayat | Payment due for persondays | Due since |
| Raichur | Bichali | 304 | 18.3.2010 |
| Raichur | Bichali | 880 | 9.11.2009 |
| Raichur | Bichali | 842 | 17.3.2010 |
| Raichur | Bichali | 11964 | 6.2.2010 |
| Raichur | Gilesugur | 1450 | 15.3.2010 |
| Raichur | Ganadhal | 350 | 27.2.2010 |
| Raichur | Mansalapur | 294 | 17.3.2010 |
| Raichur | Mansalapur | 700 | 6.1.2010 |
| Raichur | Shakwadi | 500 | 18.1.2010 |
| Raichur | Jegarkal | 686 | 16.3.2010 |
| Manvi | Ameengada | 1800 | – |
| Manvi | Kauthal | 880 | – |
| Manvi | Mallat | 4500 | – |
| Manvi | Navalkal | 900 | – |
| Manvi | Atanur | 3500 | – |
| Sindhnur | Salgunda | 430 | - |
| Sindhnur | Gorebal | 1184 | – |
| Deodurga | Ganadal | Panchayath issued cheque which bounced | – |
• Further, in Raichur, the district authorities have appointed nodal NGO’s in each Taluk as part of manpower outsourcing, but no work is being done by them. Social audits are being done as part of the SIRD program but even after over 2 months, no action has been taken against the corrupt officials.
Given the severe violation of the rights of rural workers guaranteed by the NREGA, the union decided to go on an indefinite strike from 22 September, 2010 before the office of the Zilla Panchayat, Raichur. The police arrested all the workers but later released them in the evening. However, the next day Zilla Panchayat officials met the union to discuss this issue. They agreed to clear all dues from the 2010-11 account. This will reduce the 100 day entitlement of the workers this financial year as their payments are both for this and last year.
On 24 September, the State Chief Secretary visited Raichur and met the union and promised to look into the matter and call a State level meeting. On 26th morning, the Zilla Panchayath CEO and all the EOs agreed to address all demands by 20 October: payment of unemployment allowance in 7 villages for which 5 officers will be fined Rs.1000 as per the Act; all pending payments of 2009-10 will be made.
The demands are:
- The NREGA is implemented in Raichur district as per the provisions of the Act;
- The rights of workers under the NREGA are not violated;
- Disciplinary action be taken against the errant officials.