Sourced from rozgar@googlegroups.com

1. Satyagraha on 14-15 August 2007 at Raichur, Karnataka for NREGS
(For further details please contact Abhay Kumar at
rkabhay@yahoo.co.in)

This satyagraha was taken up as a follow up of the satyagraha on 11-12 July, wherein we had given government a set of 6 demands and the administration had promised to attend to them within 1 month and failed to do so, even on just 1 issue. On 14th around 400 people (90% women) from 10 peoples organisations, sat on the dharna at the DC office. We were called for discussions by the CEO due to pressure from SP to solve the issue before 15th August. Finally after 4 rounds of discussions the government agreed to the following:
1. To immediately start from 27th August Social audits in the district. CEO requested us to guide them in trainings and making a plan.
2. The issue of setting up of a 'Grievance redressal system' was debated and finally the CEO agreed that by 28th August 'Registers' will be kept in each GP-TP-ZP were people can write their grievances and that the complaints in these, will be discussed at all taluk level meetings on 15th and 28th of each month when secretaries meet.
3. Walls at all the GP's to be painted with details of 2006-07 NREGS expenditure and also boards to be put up at all worksites by 30th August.
4. Every Wednesday to be NREGS day and the Secretaries should compulsorily be present in the GP that day. In case a Secretary has additional charge of 1-2 GP's then in those the government will issue 'Authorisation' letters to the Bill Collector to be able to collect the Job applications and attend to other complaints.
The discussions on all these issue went on in a very positive and cordial atmosphere. The problem came when we came to the 5th demand of UNMEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE. The answers were the usual replies - we will see, will ask for a report, will conduct enquiry, etc. When we insisted on definite answers the talks broke down. The people decided to continue the dharna on 15th and observe black day. Entire 14th night people sat down on the roads singing songs.
On 15th morning 600 people decided to FAST and then tied their hands with black ribbons and started a SILENT march. A 2 Km rally in which no one spoke a single word. The rally walked through the city upto the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar & Basavanna (social reformers of Karnataka) and garlanded them and all paid their respects to these great people. After coming back to the DC office there was lot of pressure from media and others on the MLA's and other to respond. In the morning before the rally started the entire district congress came to the dharna spot and announced support to the andolan. Immediately the BJP local MLA also came and talked to the people. By the time people returned from the rally the District In-charge minister came to meet the people. The major demand was Unemployment allowance. After lot of discussions and pressure from the people the Minister promised to settle the issue (check the receipts of applications given by people and explanation of the GP Secretary and then payments to the people) within 5 days. The satyagraha was taken back after this assurance.
Now we wait to see how much the government fulfills their promises. There were lot of people who helped us in this andolan especially Prof.Trilochan Sastry (IIM Bangalore) and Mr.L.C.Jain, who took lot of personal interest in contacting the top officials and Ministers in Bangalore. The NREGS state secretary had telephonic talk with us and showed interest in setting up a state level committee to monitor NREGS and give constructive suggestions. Mr.Sharanprakash Patil, MLA of Sedam in Gulbarga who is a MBBS doctor and a very sensitive politician spent time with us in understanding the issue in detail and contributed to the andolan by using his contacts to put pressure on the government.The media also took lot of interest both the print and electronic media. The satyagraha had lot of affect, with even the top police officials showing indirect support by pressurizing the
administration to act fast and they especially showed lot of respect for the fasting, silent march and respect shown to the freedom fighters, Though we did tie black ribbons, they allowed us to take out the rally. The andolan was also joined by friends from other NREGS districts in Karnataka like Bidar, Gulbarga & Belgaum. They also discussed the problems in those districts and planned to start a similar andolan in their own districts. Member of 'Right to Food' campaign Karnataka also came all the way from Kolar to show solidarity with the andolan.
Finally the only issue which could not be discussed was appointment of officials for NREGS. The ZP members especially of Congress pledged to take up the issue and ensure that appointments are done within 1 month at all GP-TP levels.
We shall keep all people informed about the outcome in the future
days.
In Solidarity,
Abhay
For, Janapara Sangathane Janti Kriya Samiti
Update from Abhay received on 16 September, 2007

Dear friends,
The peoples right for unemployment allowance is finally through, after all the cross checkings and intimidations at local level by the administration and in our final hearing 2 days back, the govt has
agreed to give UE in 7 gram panchayats of Raichur. This is a big victory for the people as they have withstood lots of pressure at the local level in the last 1 month. This is a victory of their
determination. It has also put now lot of pressure on the administration to start action. Its good to see officials start reading the NREGS guidelines seriously after nearly 1 year. We have got the decisions taken in writing and also the report has been submitted to the state govt for release of funds for UE. The administration has also finalised and promised on the following:
1. social audits - start by oct 10th
2. gram sevaks & technical assistants appointments -
oct process starts
3. grievance redressal registers in all GP's- sept end
4. every wednesday to be NREG day in the GP and secretary has to take applications, in case he is not available the people can submit to the Taluk/Block officer.
I will keep you informed on this issue. We for next 1 month now want to ask people to start applying and also take up the issue of late payments (in nearly 80% of works people are getting payments in 2—6 months time) by asking for compensation as per law.
The biggest problem is that there is no money in the district for NREG works. Nearly no works are going on here for the last 6 months. We are still understanding this issue whether the problem is at the top level or due to mishandling at GP's and not sending the UC's in time by GP's
to ZP.