Patiala: The law of 100 days of work for rural labourers, NREGA 2005, will not be allowed to end at any cost, no matter what sacrifice has to be made for it, because this Act came into existence with the initiative of the Communists during the UPA 1 government formed in 2004, and it gave a lot of relief to the rural labourers.
These views were expressed by Comrade Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, State Secretary, Punjab AITUC and Comrade Kashmir Singh Gadhaiya, State President, NREGA Rozgar Prapt Mazdoor Union (Regd.) AITUC while addressing a huge dharna of NREGA workers outside the DC office in Patiala.
This Dharna is being organized on the state level call under the leadership of NREGA Rozgar Prapt Mazdoor Union (Regd.) AITUC for the demands like restoration of transparency in NREGA 2005, work as per the Act or unemployment allowance, prevention of corruption in NREGA, recovery of the amount looted in the name of skilled labour, punishment of corrupt people by setting an example, payment of pending wages and unemployment allowance, payment of wages of Mates from semi-skilled account, issuance of new job cards, ensuring attendance of Mates at the work place etc.
Addressing the Dharna, Comrade Dhaliwal and Gadiya said that the rapid increase in mechanization in agriculture sector and other sectors has reduced work for rural workers, due to which there is an unseen need to strengthen NREGA 2005 with transparency and increase the working days to 200.
The daily wage of Rs 346 being paid to NREGA workers includes their food, but since NREGA workers bring food from their homes, they should get a daily wage of Rs 449. NREGA Mates are semi-skilled workers, and this is a huge injustice to them; their wages should be paid from the material account, which is Rs 499. There is a huge level of corruption in NREGA in Punjab, and this should be dealt with strictly, and severe punishment should be given.
Addressing the huge gathering, which was attended by a large number of women, Ravinderjit Kaur Patiala, Harshran Kaur Patiala, and Baljit Kaur Gadiya belonging to Punjab Mahila Sabha said that there is no facility for women to go to toilet or urinate at the work place in NREGA, even though NREGA 2005 provides for this. There is no clean drinking water at the work place, and no arrangement is made for basic medical aid. Hundreds of times NREGA workers get injured or fall sick, and strict arrangements should be made for this.
The protest was also addressed by Gagandeep Kaur Kakrala, Amandeep Kaur Kakrala, Amarjit Singh Gadaiyya, Bagga Singh Galvatti, Darshan Kaur Banera Khurd, Daljit Kaur Kalha Mazra, Kulwant Kaur Narmana, Charan Singh Birdhano, Kiran Kaur, and Harmesh Singh Todarwal.