Date:21/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/21/stories/2008112152620300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Residents demand jobs under NREGS

Staff Correspondent

‘Accord priority to works related to water conservation under the scheme’

BIDAR: Nearly 500 women from Bhalki and Basavakalyan taluks of Bidar district, under the banner Swaraj (Sustainable Women’s Action For Rights and Justice), Bhalki, staged a protest here on Thursday seeking jobs to residents of villages in the two taluks under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

In a memorandum submitted to Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta, secretary of Swaraj Neelkanth said that those registered under the scheme had not been issued identity cards, employment letters and passbooks. Gram panchayats had refused to accept applications given by families seeking employment under the scheme and gram sabhas had failed to prepare an action plan for taking up works under the scheme, the memorandum said. Gram panchayat secretaries had told residents of villages that employment would be provided to them as there was no funds to pay their wages.

Mr. Gupta was urged to provide 100 days of employment to the residents of villages in the two taluks; accord priority to works related to water conservation and afforestation under the NREGS; and to provide employment to applicants within a fortnight after the receipt of the application, among others.

The protesters said that they would be forced to intensify their agitation if their demands were not fulfilled in a month.

Residents of Machalapur, Dhanoora, Kanaji, Byalahalli (K), Talawad and Konmelkunda villages of Humnabad taluk and Chandkapur and Sastapur in Basavakalyan taluk participated in the protest.