Update 121: Wage Revision, Protests on 5th Anniversary of NREGA and More

[Rozi Roti]

दोस्तों,

जैसा की आप जानते हैं, कई संघटनों के संघर्ष के बाद केन्द्र सर्कार ने नरेगा की मज़दूरी दर को महंगाई सूचकांक (खेतिहर मज़दूरों के लिए) के हिसाब से बढ़ाने की मांग को मान लिया है (अप्रल २००९ को “बेस” मानते हुए, जिसका मतलब है कि १ जनवरी २०११ से ज्यादातर राज्यों में १२० रूपये की मज़दूरी हो गयी है). यह एक अधूरी जीत ही है, क्योंकि अभी भी न्यूनतम मज़दूरी देने की मांग को नहीं माना गया है. न्यूनतम मज़दूरी ना देने का केंद्र सर्कार का यह निर्णय नरेगा मज़दूरों के कानूनी हकों का उल्लंघन है, और उच्चतम न्यायलय के द्वारा बंधुआ मज़दूरी कहा गया है.

जिन्होंने हमसे नरेगा डी वी डी की मांग की है, हम उन्हें यह सूचित करना चाहते हैं कि हम जल्द ही उन्हें डी वी डी भेजेंगे. अगर आप अभी भी डी वी डी पाना चाहते हैं तो हमें लिख सकते हैं. यह अपडेट नयी नरेगा वेबसाइट पर भी उपलब्ध है.

२ फरवरी को, नरेगा की पांचवी सालगिरह के दिन, देशभर में कई संघटनों ने नरेगा में अपने अधिकारों के लिए धरने और प्रदर्शन आयोजित कराये. इनकी जानकारी आखरी खंड में है. अगर आप रोज़गार अपडेट के माध्यम से नरेगा सम्बन्धी लेख या जानकार भेजना चाहते हैं तो ro...@gmail.com पर लिखें.

आशीष

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Dear Friends

Please find attached the latest Rozgar update. As you know, after a long struggle by various organisations, the Central government has agreed to index NREGA wages to the CPIAL (with April 2009 wages as the base, which means that in most states the NREGA wage rates have been increased from around Rs 100 per day to around Rs 120 per day with effect from 1 January 2011). This, however is only a partial victory, as the struggle to ensure guaranteed payment of minimum wages still remains, and the centre's decision to not pay the minimum wages amounts to a serious violation of legal rights of workers (which has been held to be a form of bonded labour by the Supreme Court).

To those who requested the NREGA DVD 2011, we wish to say that we are still in process of sending the DVD. There is still a small window for those of you want the DVD and have not been able to request. Do send us your mailing address if you wish to have a copy. Please also note that this update is also available on the new NREGA website, www.nrega.net.in

On Februrary 2nd, the 5th Anniversary of NREGA, various organisations and unions organised protests/demonstrations to demand their basic entitlements under the NREGA. Please find the details of these in the last section.

Warmly
Aashish

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1. Developments in Delhi

1.1 Wage Revision of NREGA [GoI Notification Here] [News Articles Here] [Details and Statement from Meeting on Wage Policy: Attached]
1.2 Supreme Court Directs Central & Orissa Govt. to take action against Corruption in Orissa [Judgement Attached] [News article Here]

1.3 Details of implementation of Recommendations of CEGC Working Groups [Find Here]
1.4 Sandeep Pandey Returns NREGA Achievement Award in Protest [Full Letter attached]

1.5 Seminar and press conference on Urban Right to Work draft Act [News Article Here] [Details and Draft Act attached]

2. Important Media Articles

2.1 Corruption: Joshi Slams Gujarat Government, 7 Officials Held in Jharkhand NREGA Scam, Madhya Pradesh's Rs. 9 Crore NREGA Scam
2.2 Photo Essay: In the name of the Mahatama
2.3 Guardian Poverty Matters Blog: Do schemes that guarantee work for the poor pay off?

3. Events

3.1 National Campaign for People's Right to Information's 3rd National RTI convention: 10th - 12th March, Shillong, Meghalaya [See Invite Attached]

4. From the Field

4.1 Dharna in Sewapuri, Varanasi against NREGA Corruption [Via Ajay Patel, Mazdoor Manch/Asha]

On the 29th of January, 2010, workers in Admapur demonstrated at the block office agaisnt the fudged muster rolls prepared by the Rozgar Sewak. The BDO, Shri Rajit Ram Mishra took the matter in earnest and corrected the muster rolls while sitting with the workers. He also requested the workers to inform him immediately of future wrongdoing also.

4.2 Report on Consultation on NREGA with Workers, Block Administration and Panchayati Raj Representatives in Koraput, Odisha (Via AVIYAN) [Find Attached]

4.3. Cash Recovered from Corrupt Panchayat Sewak in Palamu, Jharkhand (Via Jawahar Mehta) [See Report in Hindi Attached]

4.4 Father wanders for due NREGA Wages, Son Dies in Hospital (Via CG NetSwara) [Report Here] [See Other Reports from CG NetSwara Attached]

4.5 Protest in Manika, Latehar (Jharkhand) organised by NREGA Sahayata Kendra, Gram Swaraj Abhiyan & Jharkhand Grameen Mazdoor Sangh [Press Note in Hindi Attached]

4.6 NREGA Lajja Diwas by Pashchim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity in various blocks of West Bengal [See Note Attached] [Press release here]

4.7 Dharna in Arajilne Block, Varanasi (UP) by 300 NREGA Workers, organised by Lok Samiti and NREGA Workers Union [Press Release attached]

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www.nrega.net.in

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http://www.righttofoodindia.org/rtowork/ega_intro.htm