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हालांकि केंद्र
सरकार ने मनरेगा के अन्तर्गत दी जाने वाले
मजदूरी को उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक से जोड़ने की बात मान ली है, फिर
भी वह इस मामले में संविधानप्रदत्त न्यूनतम मजदूरी
देने में संकोच कर रही है जबकि देश के कई सूबों में अब भी मनरेगा के अन्तर्गत
दी जाने वाली मजदूरी न्यूतम मजदूरी से कम है। सरकार का तर्क है कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी
दी गई तो बढ़ा हुआ वित्तीय बोझ कौन उठाएगा-केंद्र या फिर राज्य?
३१
दिसंबर २०१० को राष्ट्रीय
सलाहकार परिषद की
अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी के नाम लिखी गई प्रधानमंत्री की चिट्ठी में साफ कहा गया है
कि सरकार मनरेगा के अन्तर्गत मजदूरों को न्यूनतम मजदूरों देने के पक्ष में नहीं है।
गौरतलब है कि जयपुर में ४७ दिनों तक चले धरने के बाद सोनिया गांधी ने प्रधानमंत्री को
इस आशय की चिट्ठी(११ नवंबर,२०१०) लिखी
थी कि मनरेगा के अन्तर्गत मजदूरों को न्यूनतम मजदूरी दी जाय।(देखें नीचे
दी गई लिंक)
न्यूनतम
मजदूरी को लेकर
चल रही इसी रस्साकशी की
पृष्ठभूमि में गुजरे 18-19 जनवरी, 2011 को राजधानी
दिल्ली के नेहरु मेमोरियल म्यूजियम एंड लाइब्रेरी में
बंधुआ मुक्ति मोर्चा के झंडे तले योजना आयोग के सौजन्य से एक राष्ट्रीय संगोष्ठी
का आयोजन हुआ।(इस संगोष्ठी में योजना आयोग के उपाध्यक्ष मोटेंकसिंह अहलूवालिया
मौजूद थे। उन्होंने न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने के सुझाव का स्वागत किया लेकिन
मंच पर मौजूद नागरिक संगठन के विचारों से एक अर्थ में अपने को अलग भी किया) ।
अंसगठित क्षेत्र
और मनरेगा के मजदूरों के लिए युक्तिसंगत न्यूनतम मजदूरी की नीति
शीर्षक इस दो दिवसीय संगोष्ठी में इन्कूलिसिव मीडिया की टोली मौजूद थी। संगोष्ठी में
कही गई बातों का एक लेखा-जोखा नीचे प्रस्तुत किया जा रहा है(हालांकि मुख्य वक्ताओं
की बातों के इस सार-संक्षेप को तैयार करते समय पर्याप्त सावधानी बरती गई
है फिर भी बात के मूल भाव से काम ना चले और आप वक्ता को अक्षरश उद्धृत करना चाहें
तो संबंधिक वक्ता से इसके बारे में पूछ लें)। इस अवसर पर एक खुली चिट्ठी भी
जारी की गई जिसे नीचे दिया जा रहा है। अधिकतर वक्ताओं के विचारों का सार-संक्षेप नीचे
दिया जा रहा है।
स्वामी
अग्निवेश ने इस
दो दिनी संगोष्ठी के महत्व का रेखांकन करते हुए कहा कि सुप्रीम
कोर्ट के आदेशों के आलोक में कहा जा सकता है कि संविधान सम्मत न्यूनतम
मजदूर से कम का भुगतान बंधुआ मजदूरी कराने के बराबर है। स्वामी अग्निवेश के
अनुसार सरकार की मौजूदा न्यूनतम मजदूरी की नीति युक्तिसंगत नहीं है क्योंकि सरकार
ने छठे वेतन आयोग की अनुशंसाओं के आलोक में सरकारी कर्मचारियों के वेतन तो
बढ़ा दिए हैं लेकिन असंगढित क्षेत्र में काम करने वालों की मजदूरी को बढ़ाने के
लिए ऐसे प्रयास नहीं हुए हैं। स्वामी अग्निवेश ने अर्थशास्त्री कौशिक बसु के
इस तर्क का खंडन किया कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी के बढ़ाने से बेरोजगारी बढ़ेगी, इसलिए
कैश-ट्रांन्सफर के विकल्प पर भी सोचा जाना चाहिए। उन्होंने इस
सिलसिले में संजीत राय बनाम राजस्थान सरकार(१९८३) मामले का भी जिक्र किया। देखें
दी गई लिंक
http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf
)।
इस मामले में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने संजीत राय
के पक्ष में फैसला दिया था और मजदूर महिलाओं को सरकार की तरफ से पूरा भुगतान किया
गया।
जस्टिस ए
पी शाह( सेवानिवृत मुख्य न्यायाधीश, दिल्ली
उच्च न्यायालय) ने कहा कि संविधान के
खंड- IV में
देश की जनता की आशाओं और आकांक्षाओं की
अभिव्यक्ति की गई है। उन्होंने ध्यान दिलाया कि अगर न्यूनतम मजदूरी का भुगतान
नहीं किया जाता तो यह यह संविधान के अनुच्छेद 14 और अनुच्छेद 39(डी)
का उल्लंघन होगा। जस्टिस
शाह के अनुसार संविधान में समान काम के लिए समान भुगतान की व्यवस्था की गई
है। अलावे इसके अगर गरिमापूर्वक जीवन निर्वाह के हक को सुनिश्चित करने वाले अनुच्छेद 21 को ध्यान
में रखें तो कहा जा सकता है कि कोई भी नियोक्ता
अपने कामगार को न्यूनतम मजदूरी से कम नहीं दे सकता।
मोंटेक सिंह
अहलुवालिया(उपाध्यक्ष, योजना
आयोग) का कहना था कि फैसला अदालतों के ऊपर छोड़ दिया
जाय कि मनरेगा में मजदूरों को न्यूनतम मजदूरी दी
जाएगी या नहीं। उन्होंने इस बात से
सहमति जतायी कि मनरेगा के कारण गांवों में मजदूरी की दर बढ़ी है।
अरुणा राय(एमकेएसएस) ने
साफ किया कि नरेगा में
न्यूनतम मजदूरों से कम पर किसी भी सूरत में सहमत नहीं हुआ जा सकता। उपभोक्ता मूल्य
सूचकांक से नरेगा में भुगतान की जाने वाली मजदूरी को छोड़ना तभी कारगर है
जब मजदूरों को संविधान सम्मत न्यूनतम मजदूरी दी जा रही हो। अरुणा राय के अनुसार 11 राज्यों में
अब भी नरेगा के अन्तर्गत दी जाने वाली मजदूरी संविधान
निर्धारित न्यूनतम से कम है और अगर हर सूबों में न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने
की बात मान ली जाय तो बस सरकार 1270 करोड़ रुपये
देने होंगे। चूंकि बाजार इस दिशा में सहायक नहीं इसलिए सरकार को खुद
हस्तक्षेप करते हुए नरेगा में मजदूरों को न्यूनतम मजदूरी सुनिश्चित करवानी चाहिए।
क़ामरेड डी
राजा ने कहा
कि यूपीए-1 को
समर्थन देने वाला वाममोर्चा
नरेगा के अन्तर्गत 180 दिनों के
रोजगार का प्रावधान चाहता था। बाद में सहमति बनी कि इस योजना
की शुरुआत सौ दिन के रोजगार गारंटी के साथ की जाय। यूपीए-2 की सरकार
ने नरेगा की मजदूरी को यथास्थान स्थिर कर दिया है। ध्यान रखा
जाना चाहिए कि नरेगा की संकल्पना रोजगार के अधिकार को मौलिक अधिकार बनाने के
लिए की गई है और ना तो न्यायपालिका और ना ही सरकार नरेगा में न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने
से इन्कार कर सकती है।
हर्षमंदर( भोजन का
अधिकार अभियान) ने कहा
कि यह धारणा ठीक नहीं कि नरेगा के मजदूरों को न्यूनतम
मजदूरी देने से किसानों को खेतिहर मजदूरों को ज्यादा
मजदूरी देनी होगी और किसान-मजदूर के हितों में टकराहट पैदा होगी।
प्रोफेसर जयती
घोष(जेएनयू) ने
मोंटेक सिंह अहलुवालिया
की इस धारणा से असहमति जतायी कि न्यूतम मजदूरी की लड़ाई अदालत के जरिए लड़ी
जानी चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी का कानून तो 1948 से ही
है। उन्होंने ध्यान दिलाया कि नरेगा में न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने
से किसानी के खर्चे बढ़ जायेंगे की बात ठीक नहीं है क्योंकि ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में
मजदूरी बढेगी तो भी किसानी के खर्चे में हद से हद 15-20 फीसदी का
इजाफा होगा। किसान खेतिहर मजदूरों पर ज्यादा खर्च नहीं करते
बल्कि उनका ज्यादा खर्च खाद-बीज-पानी-कीटनाशक पर होता है। हमें इस दिशा में भी
सोचना चाहिए कि अर्थव्यवस्था कंपनियों का मुनाफा बढ़ाने की नैतिकता से चलेगी या
फिर मजदूरी बढ़ाने की नैतिकता से। नरेगा ने औरत और मर्द मजदूरों के बीच आमदनी के
अन्तर को कम करने में योगदान दिया है।
सुप्रीम कोर्ट
के वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता प्रशांत भूषण ने मोंटेक
सिहं अहलूवालिया के इस सुझाव को खारिज करते हुए कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी की लड़ाई का
फैसला कोर्ट के जरिए हो जयती घोष के वक्तव्य से सहमति जतायी कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने
से किसानी के खर्चे में ऐसी बढोतरी नहीं होगी कि किसानों की कमर टूट जाय। उन्होंने
कहा कि देखा यह भी जाना चाहिए कि जिस गति से देश की जीडीपी में बढ़त हो रही
है मजदूरों के पारिश्रमिक में उस गति से बढ़त हो रही है या नहीं। यदि सरकार किसानों के
बारे में इतनी ही चिन्तित है तो फिर वह कारपोरेट खेती को बढ़ावा क्यों दे रही
है। कर्नाटक में खनन कंपनियां सरकारी राजस्व में कौड़ी का योगदान करके करोड़ों का
मुनाफा बटोर रही हैं और मॉरिशस का टैक्स हैवन कारपोरेट सेक्टर को टैक्स बचाने में
मदद कर रहा है जबकि यह सरकार सिर्फ कंपनियों का मुनाफा बढ़ाने में लगी है।
कॉमरेड सीताराम येचुरी ने कहा
कि नरेगा लंबे
राजनीतिक संघर्ष का परिणाम है।इसमें वामदलों और नागरिक संगठनों ने निर्णायक भूमिका
निभायी। पहले कहा जा रहा था कि नरेगा में दी जाने वाली रकम बेकार जाएगी, उससे
निवेश में लगाया जाना चाहिए। यूपीए-1 के
समय में न्यूनतम मजदूरी
के लिए संघर्ष चला। महंगाई भत्ते की तरह नरेगा की मजदूरी
में भी प्रावधान होने चाहिए और न्यूनतम मजदूरी ना देना संविधानिक दायित्व
का उल्लंघन है।
त्रिलोचन शास्त्री(आईआईएम, बंगलोर)
ने कहा कि छठे वेतन आयोग ने जब सरकारी कर्मचारियों
के लिए
वेतन-वृद्धि की अनुशंसा की तो कर्मचारियों से इसके
बाबत पूछा जबकि मजदूरों की मजदूरी निर्धारित
करने में पूछा नहीं जाता। उन्होंने कहा कि एक जनवेतन आयोग होना चाहिए, जिसमें
मजदूरों के प्रतिनिधि शामिल हों और यह आयोग
मजदूरों की मजदूरी के बारे में फैसले ले।
बीडी शर्मा( पूर्व आयुक्त, एस सी
एसटी आयोग, नेता- भारत जन
आंदोलन) ने कहा कि अनियोजित क्षेत्र में समाज के वंचित तबके के लोग काम करते हैं
और यह तबका आजादी के बाद से ही सरकार की साजिश का शिकार है। सरकारी कर्मचारियों का
वेतन पाँच आदमी का परिवार और उसके भरण-पोषण को आधार मानकर निर्धारित किया
जा रहा है जबकि असंगठित क्षेत्र के लिए यह मानक तीन आदमियों के परिवार का
है। हालत यह है कि गांव से उगाही गई रकम के सहारे लगातार अर्थव्यवस्था का शहरीकरण
हुआ लेकिन गांवों की लूट के सहारे इसी उगाही गई रकम को गावों को लौटाने की बात
आती है तो चुप्पी की साजिश के तहत पूरा तंत्र मौन साध लेता है। उन्होंने कहा कि
किसान और मजदूर के हितों में कोई टकराव नहीं है क्योंकि गांव राजनीतिक जीवन की बुनियादी
इकाई है और असली मसला शहरी भारत से गांवों के लोगों द्वारा यह पूछने का है
कि बता मेरी मेहनत का मोल क्या है।
श्रम मंत्रालय
से सम्बद्ध मंत्री हरीश
रावत ने कहा
कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी को बढ़ाने से जुड़ी बहस लोकतंत्र को मजबूत करती हैं।
यह बात सच है कि मनरेगा की योजना में न्यूनतम मजदूरी अधिनियम का ध्यान नहीं रखा
गया। उन्होंने नेशनल सोशल सिक्युरिटी फंड और डोमेस्टिक वर्कर्स एक्ट-2008 जैसे कदमों
की चर्चा करते हुए कहा कि मजदूरी बढ़ाने के लिए सरकार ने
एक कदम उठाया है और उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक से इस मजदूरी को जोड़ दिया गया है।.
कौशिक बसु( वित्त मंत्रालय
में आर्थिक सलाहकार) ने कहा कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी
की अवधारणा हर देश में है। अगर मजदूरी बढ़ायी जाय तो असंगठित क्षेत्र
में बेरोजगारी बढ़ेगी क्योंकि नियोक्ता मजदूरों को कम करके नई मशीनरी से
काम चलाने लगेंगे। उन्होंने इसी क्रम में सुझाव दिया कि बेरोजगारों को नकदी देने
की योजना के बारे में सोचा जाना चाहिए।
अशोक खंडेलवाल(पूर्व प्राध्यापक, वीवी गिरि
नेशनल लेबर इंस्टीट्यूट) ने कहा कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी संबंधित
अधिनियम में मजदूरी को तय करने की सैद्धांतिकी के बाबत संशोधन की जरुरत है।
फिलहाल इसमें न्यूनतम मजदूरी के पुनरावलोकन को अनिवार्य नहीं माना गया है और
अर्थव्यवस्था के कुछ क्षेत्रों के लिए न्यबनतम मजदूरी भी अनिवार्य नहीं मानी गई है।
न्यूनतम मजदूरी घरेलू नौकरों सहित हर तरह के रोजगार में लगे लोगों के लिए सुनिश्चित होनी
चाहिए। अधिनियम में न्यूनतम मजदूरी को मुद्रास्फीति से भी जोड़ने के प्रावधान
होने चाहिए।
सुप्रीम कोर्ट
के सेवानिवृत मुख्य न्यायाधीश जे एस
वर्मा ने कहा
कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी से कम के भुगतान का मतलब है मानवाधिकारों का
उल्लंघन। उन्होंने संविधान के अनुच्छेद 21 का हवाला
देते हुए कहा कि इसमें गरिमापूर्वक जीवन जीने का अधिकार दिया गया है, अनुच्छेद 38 में गैर-बराबरी
कम करने की बात कही गई है और अनुच्छेद 39 में जीविका
की व्यवस्था का अधिकार दिया गया है। पूर्व न्यायाधीश के
अनुसार सरकारी खजाने में रकम तो बहुत है लेकिन न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने के मामले
में सरकार पुराने जमाने के जमींदारों और नवाबों से कहीं ज्यादा सामंती है। उनका
सुझाव था कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी के बारे में सुप्रीम कोर्ट में जनहित याचिका डालना सहायक
सिद्ध हो सकता है।
प्रोफेसर मोहन
गोपाल(नेशनल ज्यूडीशियल एकेडमी)
के अनुसार न्यूनतम मजदूरी का अधिकार मौलिक अधिकारों का हिस्सा है और
कोई भी सरकार या कानून इसकी अवहेलना नहीं कर सकते। फिर, सुप्रीम
कोर्ट के फैसलों से स्पष्ट है कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी से कम
भुगतान को संभव बनाने वाली कोई कानूनी कार्रवाई नहीं
की जा सकती और अब वक्त आ चुका है
जब संविधान में वर्णित राज्य के नीति-निर्देशक सिद्धांतों के आलोक में सोचा जाय
जहां जीवन-निर्वाह के लायक मजदूरी देने की बात कही गई है।
प्रोफेसर मोहन
गोपाल के अनुसार सविधान
के बुनियादी मूल्य हैं सत्य, अहिंसा,स्वराज, अंत्योदय
और सर्वोदय। न्यूनतम
मजदूरी के प्रावधान अंत्योदय के अन्तर्गत आते हैं और इसे बाजार की ताकतों
के भरोसे नहीं छोड़ा जा सकता क्योंकि बाजार के मूल्य संविधान के मूल्यों से अलग
हैं। संविधान में न्यूनतम मजदूरी, सामान काम के
लिए सामान भुगतान और
संगठन बनाकर मोल-तोल करने का हक देने वाले प्रावधान मौजूद हैं। संविधान
न्यूनतम मजदूरी से आगे की बात कहता है। वहां न्यूनतम मजदूरी के मायने है किसी
काम का कम से कम इतना भुगतान कि पूरे परिवार का भरण-पोषण(रोटी,कपड़ा,मकान,सेहत,शिक्षा और
आराम) हो, काम
की गुणवत्ता बढ़े। संविधान सभा ने न्यूनतम मजदूरी
के बजाय लीविंग वेजेज शब्द का इस्तेमाल किया था जो गुजरे साठ सालों में लगातार
अपना अर्थ खो रहा है।
प्रोफेसर ज्यां
द्रेज ने प्रोफेसर मोहन गोपाल
के तर्कों से सहमति जताते हुए कहा कि मनरेगा में दी जाने वाली मजदूरी जीडीपी में
होने वाली बढ़त की तुलना में बहुत कम है। न्यूनतम मजदूरी से कम कभी स्वीकार नहीं
किया जा सकता और ना ही मनरेगा में न्यूनतम मजदूरी अधिनियम की अनदेखी की जा
सकती है।मनरेगा में फिलहाल मजदूरों को कम कम मजदूरी देने से रोकने के प्रावधान नहीं
हैं।व्यापार जगत की खास खबरों पर केंद्रित मीडिया में न्यूनतम मजदूरी के
विरोध में तर्क पेश किए जा रहे हैं(कृपया देखें लिंक
http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html
).मीडिया
का एक हिस्सा कह रहा है कि नरेगा के
कारण दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा ट्रेड यूनियन अस्तित्व में आएगा।
नेशनल फेडरेशन
ऑव इंडियन विमेन से संबद्ध एनी राजा ने कहा
कि मनरेगा से न्यूनतम मजदूरी के बारे में जागरुकता आई है। इस योजना
में महात्मा गांधी का नाम जोड़कर उनका अपमान ही किया गया है। मनरेगा में महिला श्रमिकों
की तादाद
56 फीसदी है। फिर, इसमें ज्यादातर मजदूर अनुसूचित
जाति-जनजाति के हैं। इसलिए, सरकार
को किसी भी लिहाज से रोजगार गारंटी के इस कार्यक्रम में न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने
की बात माननी चाहिए। कैश-ट्रांसफर का विचार ठीक नहीं है क्योंकि इससे गरिमापूर्व जीवन
जीने के अधिकार की अनदेखी होती है। यह एक उलटबांसी है कि सरकार बहुराष्ट्रीय निगमों
को तो वित्तीय मदद दे रही है लेकिन न्यूनतम मजदूरी देने के नाम पर
उसके हाथ-पांव फूल रहे हैं।
ऑल इंडिया
ट्रेड यूनियन कांग्रेस की अमरजीत कौर ने कहा
कि न्यूनतम मजदूरी ही नहीं मजदूरों के बाकी हकों को लेकर भीसंविधान की
अवहेलना हो रही है। पहले कारपोरेट जगत ही यह अवहेलना करता था अब सरकार भी
करने लगी है। सरकार मनरेगा में काम करने वालों को कामगार मानने से इनकार कर रही
है। इसी कारण राजस्थान में नरेगा के मजदूरों को ट्रेड यूनियन नहीं बनाने दिया जा
रहा है जबकि संविधान उन्हें संगठित होकर अपने पारिश्रमिक का मोल-तोल करने के अधिकार
देता है। उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार खुद भी आसा वर्कर, आंगनबाड़ी कार्यकर्ता
और संविदा शिक्षक जैसे
नामों से अपने काम
के दायरे में एक असंगठित क्षेत्र का निर्माण कर रही है और
इन्हें वाजिब मजदूरी से वंचित किया जा रहा है।
सरकार इन्हें कामगार नहीं मानती बल्कि स्वयंसेवक मानती है मगर
काम उनसे कामगारों वाला लेती है। सुश्री कौर ने बताया कि देश के सभी श्रमिक संगठन अगले
२३ फरवरी को श्रम कानूनों की अनदेखी, न्यूनतम मजदूरी, बेरोजगारी
और सार्वजनिक
क्षेत्र की कंपनियों
में विनिवेश के मुद्दे पर संसद का घेराव करने जा रहे हैं।
उन्होंने कहा कि देश में असंगठित क्षेत्र में काम करने वाले 43 करोड़ मजदूरों के लिए
सामाजिक सुरक्षा के नाम पर कोई बजटीय आबंटन नहीं होता।
एनबीए और
एनएपीएम की मेधा पाटकर ने कहा कि
फिलहाल लवासा और आदर्श सोसायटी के मुद्दे पर उनके संगठन द्वारा संघर्ष चलाया जा
रहा है। न्यूनतम मजदूरी का कानून जीवन और जीविका के अधिकार से जुड़ा है। फिलहाल संविधान
प्रदत्त मूल्यों की बात करना जरुरी है ना कि बाजार के मूल्यों की। नरेगा से
गरीबों को मदद मिली है लेकिन वर्ल्ड बैंक डेवलपमेंट रिपोर्ट २००९ में कहा गया है
कि नरेगा को चलाकर बनावटी तरीके से गांवों से शहरों की तरफ पलायन को रोका जा रहा
है।( कृपया देखें लिंक- http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms
http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html
मेधा पाटकर
के अनुसार सवाल सिर्फ मनरेगा की मजदूरी को उपभोक्ता मूल्य
सूचकांक से जोड़ने भर का नही है बल्कि सामाजिक न्याय को सुनिश्चिक करने
का है। फिलहाल मजदूरों को संगठित और असंगठित क्षेत्र में बांटने की साजिश चल
रही है। ऐसे पद इस सच्चाई को छुपाते हैं कि कुछ मजदूर सरकार की नजर में सुरक्षा देने के
लायक हैं और कुछ नहीं। फिलहाल कारपोरेट- ठेकेदार और बिल्डर का गठजोड़ मिलकर मजदूरों
का शोषण कर रहा है। प्राकृतिक संसाधनों पर जनता के अधिकार की बात का अब भी
साकार किया जाना बाकी है।
इस
अवसर पर एक वक्तव्य जारी किया गया है। इसक मूल पाठ नीचे
दिया जा रहा है, साथ
ही वक्तव्य के नीचे
सार्वजनिक जीवन के विभन्न क्षेत्रों के गणमान्य लोगों के हस्ताक्षर भी वक्तव्य
के नीचे दिए गए हैं।
Open Statement for immediate release to the press January 18th, 2011
Government of India Must Immediately Stop Perpetuating Forced/Bonded Labour
We the undersigned are deeply distressed at the recent
decision by the Prime Minister (in a letter dated 31st December 2010) to
delink MGNREGA wages from the Minimum Wages Act even while indexing the
wage rate under NREGA to Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour.
The Government of India had already undermined the wages under NREGA
through a January 2009 notification, when it imposed an unjust freeze at
an arbitrary rate of Rs 100 per day on its wages. The Government of
India’s use of Section 6(1) to delink NREGA wages from the Minimum Wage
Act is not just bad in law but is also immoral in so far as it seeks to
remove the basis of Constitutional and legal protection of the lowest
end of workers in the wage hierarchy. With a consistent near double
digit inflation rate, touching 9.7% and even higher food price inflation
the frozen NREGA wage, over the last 24 months has been significantly
eroded in real terms. In fact even after the recent indexing of wages,
the MGNREGS wage, in at least 11 states, is lower than the prevailing
state minimum wage-- a situation that the Supreme Court of India has
declared to be forced labour, prohibited under Article 23 of the
Constitution.
As it is even State minimum wages have also been
artificially depressed, without any rationale, and ignore the minimum
need-based norms proposed in 1957 by the 15th Indian Labour Conference.
These norms were not only endorsed by the Supreme Court but further
enhanced by additional 20% in the Unichoy Vs State of Kerala in 1961 and
25% in the Reptakos Brett vs their workmen in 1991. If these norms are
followed, given current rural prices, the minimum wage would be at least
Rs. 250 per day. But the Government of India has not only blatantly
disregarded these minimum wage setting norms, but is continuing to pay a
meagre real wage of just Rs. 100 per day since January 2009 under
NREGA.
There is overwhelming legal and political consensus on the need to pay minimum wage in MGNREGS works:
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court in WP No. 11848/2009
suspended the January 2009 notification on freezing the minimum wage for
NREGA. The High Court stated that Government being the agency for
implementing minimum wages cannot itself violate the minimum wages. In
addition, governments of Tripura, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh had also requested an amendment of the
January 2009 notification as their state minimum wages were above the
notified wage rate. Both the Government of India and the state
Government of Andhra Pradesh are facing contempt proceedings since.
• GoI’s own law officer, the Additional Solicitor
General, Ms. Indira Jaising referring to the PUDR Vs Union of India case
and Article 23 of the Constitution of India has said that payment of
less than minimum wage in NREGA works will amount to forced labour. She
also cited the Kamani Metals and Alloys vs their workmen case in which
the Supreme Court observed that minimum wage must be paid ‘irrespective
of the extent of profit, the financial condition of the establishment or
the availability of workmen on lower wages.’
• Chief Ministers of the states of Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh and Kerala have written to the Prime Minister requesting MoRD’s
compliance with the Minimum Wage Act
• The Chairperson of UPA, Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has
written to the Prime Minister calling his attention to find urgent
resolution of this matter.
• The Labour Ministry has reiterated its “fundamental
objection” to Section 6(1), warning that using 6(1) to allow payment of
less than prevailing state minimum wage will not stand legal scrutiny.
• The National Advisory Council, headed by Mrs. Gandhi, also recommended that minimum wages be paid to NREGS workers.
• 15 eminent jurists and lawyers including M N
Venkatachaliah and J S Verma (both former Chief Justice of India), V R
Krishna Iyer, P B Sawant, K Ramaswamy, Santosh Hegde (all former judges
of the Supreme Court), A P Shah (former Chief Justice of Delhi High
Court) and Dr. Upendra Baxi, Dr. Mohan Gopal, Fali S Nariman, Prashant
Bhushan, Brinda Grover and others have urged the Government of India to
immediately revoke its unconstitutional notification and along with
state governments ensure that minimum wages are paid to all workers in
India.
The Ministry of Finance in its letters dated December 1
and December 6, 2010 has stated that the Government will index the Rs
100 with inflation using wages as of April 1, 2009 as base for
notification on January 1, 2011. While indexing wages with inflation
recognises the fall in real wages, it will not resolve the core issue.
The Prime Minister has asked the rural development
ministry to develop an index for fixing and revising wages under rural
job scheme NREGA. Till the new index is worked out, wages under the
scheme will be tied to inflation as measured by the consumer price index
for agricultural labourers. The order will be effective from January 1,
2011. A committee under the chairmanship of Pronab Sen has been formed
to devise an NREGA wage index. This is in itself worrisome as it will
create yet another category of categorising workers and thereby
institutionalizing the discrimination.
The government’s refusal to pay even minimum wage on
public works at a time when food prices keep shooting up lays bare the
Prime Minister’s promise that “no citizen of our country must sleep
hungry”. Moreover it is shocking that a government battling trust
deficit as scam after scam privileging powerful corporations become
public, will let (comparatively minor) fiscal considerations override a
constitutional and humanitarian mandate.
We demand the Government of India:
1. Immediately implements Section 6(2) of the NREGA
indexed to inflation in all states thereby upholding the fundamental
right to live of its poorest workers.
2. Immediately declares a national floor level need based
wage based on the 15th ILC norms and subsequent Supreme Court
judgements on minimum wage fixation, below which no state minimum wage
can go.
1. Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan)
2. Biraj Patnaik (Principal Adviser, Supreme Court Commissioners)
3. Kavita Srivastava (People’s Union for Civil Liberties)
4. Arundhati Dhuru (National Alliance of People’s Movements)
5. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan
6. Anuradha Talwar (Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity)
7. Dunu Roy (Hazards Centre)
8. Gautam Mody (New Trade Union Initiative)
9. Roma (National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers)
10. Sandeep Pandey (Asha Pariwar)
11. Pradeep Baisakh (Journalist)
12. Yogendra Yadav (Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies)
13. Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian Women)
14. Mythri Prasad- Aleyamma (Centre for Development Studies)
15. Sunil Kaul (The Ant)
16. Kamal Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
17. Anuradha Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
18. Ambarish Rai (Lok Sangharsh Morcha)
19. Dr. Rukmini Rao (Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Secunderabad)
20. Anurag Modi and Shamim Modi (Samajwadi Jan Parsihad, Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Shramik Adivasi Sanghthan)
21. Sachin Kumar Jain (Vikas Samwad)
22. Dr. Yogesh Kumar (Samarthan, Bhopal)
23. Kaveri Gill (Independent Development Economist and Researcher)
24. Madhuri (Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan)
25. Noor Zaheer (Writer and Social Activist)
26. Ashish Ranjan and Kamayani Swami (Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, Bihar)
27. Dipa Sinha (Reseach Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
28. Nandlal Prasad (Lok Samiti, Varanasi)Ajay Patel (Mazdoor Manch/AASRA)
29. Ankita Aggarwal (Right to Food Campaign Secretariat)
30. Jawahar Mehta (Jharkhand Gramin Mazdoor Sangh)
31. Abhay Kumar (Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane)
32. Richa Singh (Sangtin Kisan Majdoor Sangthan Sitapur)
33. Reetika Khera (Visitor, Centre for Development Economics)
34. Karuna Muthiah (Right to Food Campaign, Tamil Nadu)
35. K.B.Singh (Social Worker, Madhya Pradesh)
36. Arun Tyagi (Jan Pahal, Madhya Pradesh)
37. Ishtiyaque Ahmad (Amam Trust)
38. Rupesh (Lok Parishad, Bihar)
39. Prof Om P Damani (IIT Bombay)
40. Anirban Kar (Economics Department, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University)
41. Sowmya Kidambi (Director, SSAAT, Government of Andhra Pradesh)
42. Kundan Kumar (Senior Project Manager, Igate Global Solutions)
43. Guru (AID Bangalore)
44. Anindita (NREGA Researcher)
45. Anand Sivaraman (Entrepreneur)
46. Nandini Nayak (School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London)
47. Mohan Bhagat (Professor, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park)
48. Arshad Ajmal (Sahulat Microfinance Society)
49. Jayant Thakur (Lawyer)
50. Arudra Burra (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles
51. Sharukh Alam (The Patna Collective)
52. Vikalp Mishra (University of Alabama, Huntsville)
53. Anuj Grover (AID Delhi)
54. Anjani Kumar
55. R. Selva Ganapathy (AID Delhi)
56. Pritish Bose (Shramajibee Samanvay Committee, West Bengal)
57. Dr. Shakeel Rahman (CHARM, Patna)
58. Ranjan (Nidan, Bihar)
59. Albert Joseph, Executive Director, FVTRS
60. L.S Ghonoidoss, Sucwlworn, West Bengal
61. Fr. Anthony Karik, President, FVTRS, West Bengal
62. Pradeep Mahapatra, Udyama, Orissa
63. PAHAD
64. Dillip Verma Bal, SRUJAN, Orissa
65. Fr. Corlls Gonsalves, Don Bosco, Maharastra
66. Levkish Viaka, Amar Shaheed Chitra Sangathan, Uttar Pradesh
67. K. Mahasa Sundra, Pondicherry
68. Nandkumar Dhande, Priyadasshum, Maharastra
69. Darade Sunil, Maharashtra Jantik Shishan Ahmadnagar
70. P Kampe, Byancun Sena
71. Dragpal Singh, HVSS
72. Anna John, SRWD, West Bengal
73. Khairuinsa N Shan, KDDC, Karnataka
74. R Y Swamy Naik, HELP Hirigur, Karnataka
75. Sr. Cecil, Christ Raja Ashram, Rajasthan
76. Angumahato, Lokhit Sen, Jharkhand
77. Sachi Kumari, CSS , Jharkhand
78. H F Akki, NEEDS
79. M H Angakri, Sarvodya, Karnataka
80. D G Chibbori, I W S Karnataka
81. G Chabradhururao, Y C D Andhra Pradesh
82. Karamat Ali Khan, NIPDIT, Orissa
83. Sr. Annie Davis, Uttar Pradesh
84. Henry Sach, St. Joseph’s Convent College, Jharkand
85. A. Isac Singh, SWAN, Tamil Nadu
86. Sr. Ann Maria, Kristi Jyoti
87. Mohinuddin Shah, West Bengal
88. Fr. Sir P Job, ADCI S W Society, Kerela
89. Hardkishore Prasad, Rajasthan
90. Sohrab, GRASS
91. Sukhbal Singh, GRASS
92. Fr. Sukumar, KECYKS (West Bengal)
93. Ancul, GRASS
94. Gouulananda Ojha India Development Project, Orissa
95. Nasim Ansari, Tarun Cletra, Uttar Pradesh
96. Sr. Mabul Pinto, Karnataka
97. Anpama, Jharkand
98. Sr. Sadhana, Uttar Pradesh
99. Hari Shankar Rant, Kandhamal, Orissa
100. Suraj Singh, Uttar Pradesh
101. Fr. K. D Joseph, KDSSS, Andhra Pradesh
102. Arun Kumawat, Rajasthan
103. Udaiveer VishwaKumar, Sahas Sewa Sansthan, Uttar Pradesh
104. Senastian K, Jeevana, Kerela
105. Fr. Regimon Cyriac, SVS, Jharkhand
106. C. P Nicholas, FVTRS, Bangalore
107. Dr. P . Basak, FVTRS, Karnataka
108. B.K Panda, FVTRS, Karnataka
109. H.R Sunny, FVTRS, Uttar Pradesh
110. Prem Kumar Sinha, The Vigil, Bihar
111. S. Paranjhotay, CNI-SS, Nagpur
112. S Nageshwar, FVTRS
113. Subodh Kumar Pandey, AGYVS, Bihar
114. Fr. Veeresh, SMSSS, Karnataka
115. Francis Anthony, Institute of Social Research and Development, Madhya Pradesh
116. Shinoj PC, COD, Calicut
117. Sasikumar PB, Shvoyas, Kerela
118. Rosara Mohanti, Kalahandi Orissa
119. Pramila Patna, Kalahandi Orissa
120. Amrendra Kumar, SVWST, Jharkhand
121. Akokla Insorg, FVTRS
122. Prashanth, FVTRS, Bangalore
123. Arpana Bharti, FVTRS, Bangalore
124. Ankur Kachhwana, FVTRS, Jodhpur
125. Raju Teron, FVTRS
126. K Vijaya, VMMIL, Tamil Nadu
127. Sr. Sumitha, Krupalaya, Tamil Nadu
128. Biswaji Padhi, SRUSTI, Orissa
129. S Charides, WEEDS, Tamil Nadu
130. Rishi Riddhi Anhata, Shamayiti, West Bengal
131. Prajnamita, Shamayiti, West Bengal
132. Akhilesh Mishra, FVTRS, Rajasthan
133. L Pankajakshan, Santhigram, Kerela
134. A Isac Sinwalt, SWAN, Kanyakumari
135. Ram Shram Verma, LJSS, Uttar Pradesh
136. Pramod Kumar, Samchit Vikas Sansthan Basti, Uttar Pradesh
137. Raghuveer Acharta, FVTRS, Andhra Pradesh
138. Diviana Nayagi G, FVTRS, Karnataka
139. Usha R, FVTRS, Karnataka
140. Pawan k, Gurgaon
141. Trilochan Shastry, Dean, IIMB
142. Prof. Jean Dreze, Allahabad University
143. ICAN
144. Gabriele, D.
145. Madhulika Swami, Delhi
146. Nalini Nayak, Reader, PGDAV College, University of Delhi
147. Prof Pulin B. Nayak, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
148. Ashutosh Swami, General Manager (Retd)Indian Railways
149. Dr. Urvi, Medical Professional, USA
150. Gautam Desai, USA
151. Dr. Rahul Thakur, Medical Professional, USA
संपर्क:
रुचि गुप्ता 9910206490
श्रेया भट्टाचार्य 9811108328
कामायनी स्वामी 09771950248
विशे। जानकारी के लिए देखें नीचे दी गई लिंक-:
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html
http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf
Rural job scheme minimum wage revised, risking inflation
spiral by Ruhi Tewari & Asit Ranjan Mishra, Livemint, 7 January,
2011, http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html
World Bank sees NREGA as a barrier to economic development, The Economic Times, 15 March, 2009, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms
http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html
Minimum Wages under MGNREGA demanded, SamayLive, 19 January, 2011, http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676481042/mgnrega-minimum-wages-nmml-sitaram-yechury-montek-singh-ahluwali.html
NREGA is flawed: Rawat by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 19 January, 2011, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nrega-is-flawed-rawat/422254/
Abhijeet Sen, Member, Planning Commission interviewed by Rupashree Nanda, http://www.im4change.org/interviews/abhijeet-sen-member-planning-commission-interviewed-by-rupashree-nanda-4744.html
Increasing cases of irregularities in MGNREGS, The Hindu, 7 December, 2010, http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68186
States must pay minimum wages to workers under nrega: Pronab Sen by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 7 December, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/states-must-pay-minimum-wages-to-workers-under-nrega-pronab-sen/417394/
Will Unique Identity Number derail nrega? by Alok Pandey and Tanima Biswas, NDTV, 2 December, 2010, http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002
Rajasthan govt to impose penalty for delaying MGNREGA payment, The Hindustan Times, 30 November, 2010, http://www.hindustantimes.com/Raj-govt-to-impose-penalty-for-delaying-MGNREGA-payment/Article1-632811.aspx
‘Keep UID out of MGNREGA', The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece
The biggest NREGA scam in Rajasthan
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/the-biggest-mnrega-scam-in-rajasthan-1911.html
Social audit of NREGS in Araria reveals corruption
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/social-audit-of-nregs-in-araria-reveals-corruption-870.html
Poor people unite against corrupt sarpanches
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/poor-people-unite-against-corrupt-sarpanches-777.html
Is NREGA II a product of a complacent UPA II?
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/debate-is-nregs-ii-a-product-of-a-complacent-upa-ii-114.html
www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40990562/Annexure-4-Open-Letter-From-Eminent-Jurists-and-Lawyers
Centre to step in Rajasthan Mnregs wage row by K Balchand, The Hindu, 10 October, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm
Mazdoor Satyagrah demands accountability panel, The Times of India, 9 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms
Activists to send low wage feat' to Guinness, The Times of India, 7 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms
NREGS: Activists demand action on anomalies, The Times of India, 6 October, 2010, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode
Less than min wages for NREGA workers unconstitutional: Govt by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 5 October, 2010,
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode
Ensure minimum wages to NREGA workers: Activists by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 4 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms
No guarantees anymore by Sowmya Sivakumar, The Hindu, 3 October, 2010,
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm
Labourers go on indefinite strike, press for demands, The Times of India, 3 October, 2010,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms
The mass job guarantee by Aruna Roy & Nachiket Udupa, Himal Magazine, October, 2010,
http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html
Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892
'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms
NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/
MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm
States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp
Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html
Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx
Fear of Freedom by Ruchi Gupta, Hard News, 11 January, 2011, http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/01/3799
Open Statement for immediate release to the press January 18th, 2011
Government of India Must Immediately Stop Perpetuating Forced/Bonded Labour
We the undersigned are deeply distressed at the recent
decision by the Prime Minister (in a letter dated 31st December 2010) to
delink MGNREGA wages from the Minimum Wages Act even while indexing the
wage rate under NREGA to Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour.
The Government of India had already undermined the wages under NREGA
through a January 2009 notification, when it imposed an unjust freeze at
an arbitrary rate of Rs 100 per day on its wages. The Government of
India’s use of Section 6(1) to delink NREGA wages from the Minimum Wage
Act is not just bad in law but is also immoral in so far as it seeks to
remove the basis of Constitutional and legal protection of the lowest
end of workers in the wage hierarchy. With a consistent near double
digit inflation rate, touching 9.7% and even higher food price inflation
the frozen NREGA wage, over the last 24 months has been significantly
eroded in real terms. In fact even after the recent indexing of wages,
the MGNREGS wage, in at least 11 states, is lower than the prevailing
state minimum wage-- a situation that the Supreme Court of India has
declared to be forced labour, prohibited under Article 23 of the
Constitution.
As it is even State minimum wages have also been
artificially depressed, without any rationale, and ignore the minimum
need-based norms proposed in 1957 by the 15th Indian Labour Conference.
These norms were not only endorsed by the Supreme Court but further
enhanced by additional 20% in the Unichoy Vs State of Kerala in 1961 and
25% in the Reptakos Brett vs their workmen in 1991. If these norms are
followed, given current rural prices, the minimum wage would be at least
Rs. 250 per day. But the Government of India has not only blatantly
disregarded these minimum wage setting norms, but is continuing to pay a
meagre real wage of just Rs. 100 per day since January 2009 under
NREGA.
There is overwhelming legal and political consensus on the need to pay minimum wage in MGNREGS works:
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court in WP No. 11848/2009
suspended the January 2009 notification on freezing the minimum wage for
NREGA. The High Court stated that Government being the agency for
implementing minimum wages cannot itself violate the minimum wages. In
addition, governments of Tripura, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh had also requested an amendment of the
January 2009 notification as their state minimum wages were above the
notified wage rate. Both the Government of India and the state
Government of Andhra Pradesh are facing contempt proceedings since.
• GoI’s own law officer, the Additional Solicitor
General, Ms. Indira Jaising referring to the PUDR Vs Union of India case
and Article 23 of the Constitution of India has said that payment of
less than minimum wage in NREGA works will amount to forced labour. She
also cited the Kamani Metals and Alloys vs their workmen case in which
the Supreme Court observed that minimum wage must be paid ‘irrespective
of the extent of profit, the financial condition of the establishment or
the availability of workmen on lower wages.’
• Chief Ministers of the states of Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh and Kerala have written to the Prime Minister requesting MoRD’s
compliance with the Minimum Wage Act
• The Chairperson of UPA, Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has
written to the Prime Minister calling his attention to find urgent
resolution of this matter.
• The Labour Ministry has reiterated its “fundamental
objection” to Section 6(1), warning that using 6(1) to allow payment of
less than prevailing state minimum wage will not stand legal scrutiny.
• The National Advisory Council, headed by Mrs. Gandhi, also recommended that minimum wages be paid to NREGS workers.
• 15 eminent jurists and lawyers including M N
Venkatachaliah and J S Verma (both former Chief Justice of India), V R
Krishna Iyer, P B Sawant, K Ramaswamy, Santosh Hegde (all former judges
of the Supreme Court), A P Shah (former Chief Justice of Delhi High
Court) and Dr. Upendra Baxi, Dr. Mohan Gopal, Fali S Nariman, Prashant
Bhushan, Brinda Grover and others have urged the Government of India to
immediately revoke its unconstitutional notification and along with
state governments ensure that minimum wages are paid to all workers in
India.
The Ministry of Finance in its letters dated December 1
and December 6, 2010 has stated that the Government will index the Rs
100 with inflation using wages as of April 1, 2009 as base for
notification on January 1, 2011. While indexing wages with inflation
recognises the fall in real wages, it will not resolve the core issue.
The Prime Minister has asked the rural development
ministry to develop an index for fixing and revising wages under rural
job scheme NREGA. Till the new index is worked out, wages under the
scheme will be tied to inflation as measured by the consumer price index
for agricultural labourers. The order will be effective from January 1,
2011. A committee under the chairmanship of Pronab Sen has been formed
to devise an NREGA wage index. This is in itself worrisome as it will
create yet another category of categorising workers and thereby
institutionalizing the discrimination.
The government’s refusal to pay even minimum wage on
public works at a time when food prices keep shooting up lays bare the
Prime Minister’s promise that “no citizen of our country must sleep
hungry”. Moreover it is shocking that a government battling trust
deficit as scam after scam privileging powerful corporations become
public, will let (comparatively minor) fiscal considerations override a
constitutional and humanitarian mandate.
We demand the Government of India:
1. Immediately implements Section 6(2) of the NREGA
indexed to inflation in all states thereby upholding the fundamental
right to live of its poorest workers.
2. Immediately declares a national floor level need based
wage based on the 15th ILC norms and subsequent Supreme Court
judgements on minimum wage fixation, below which no state minimum wage
can go.
1. Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan)
2. Biraj Patnaik (Principal Adviser, Supreme Court Commissioners)
3. Kavita Srivastava (People’s Union for Civil Liberties)
4. Arundhati Dhuru (National Alliance of People’s Movements)
5. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan
6. Anuradha Talwar (Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity)
7. Dunu Roy (Hazards Centre)
8. Gautam Mody (New Trade Union Initiative)
9. Roma (National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers)
10. Sandeep Pandey (Asha Pariwar)
11. Pradeep Baisakh (Journalist)
12. Yogendra Yadav (Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies)
13. Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian Women)
14. Mythri Prasad- Aleyamma (Centre for Development Studies)
15. Sunil Kaul (The Ant)
16. Kamal Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
17. Anuradha Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
18. Ambarish Rai (Lok Sangharsh Morcha)
19. Dr. Rukmini Rao (Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Secunderabad)
20. Anurag Modi and Shamim Modi (Samajwadi Jan Parsihad, Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Shramik Adivasi Sanghthan)
21. Sachin Kumar Jain (Vikas Samwad)
22. Dr. Yogesh Kumar (Samarthan, Bhopal)
23. Kaveri Gill (Independent Development Economist and Researcher)
24. Madhuri (Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan)
25. Noor Zaheer (Writer and Social Activist)
26. Ashish Ranjan and Kamayani Swami (Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, Bihar)
27. Dipa Sinha (Reseach Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
28. Nandlal Prasad (Lok Samiti, Varanasi)Ajay Patel (Mazdoor Manch/AASRA)
29. Ankita Aggarwal (Right to Food Campaign Secretariat)
30. Jawahar Mehta (Jharkhand Gramin Mazdoor Sangh)
31. Abhay Kumar (Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane)
32. Richa Singh (Sangtin Kisan Majdoor Sangthan Sitapur)
33. Reetika Khera (Visitor, Centre for Development Economics)
34. Karuna Muthiah (Right to Food Campaign, Tamil Nadu)
35. K.B.Singh (Social Worker, Madhya Pradesh)
36. Arun Tyagi (Jan Pahal, Madhya Pradesh)
37. Ishtiyaque Ahmad (Amam Trust)
38. Rupesh (Lok Parishad, Bihar)
39. Prof Om P Damani (IIT Bombay)
40. Anirban Kar (Economics Department, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University)
41. Sowmya Kidambi (Director, SSAAT, Government of Andhra Pradesh)
42. Kundan Kumar (Senior Project Manager, Igate Global Solutions)
43. Guru (AID Bangalore)
44. Anindita (NREGA Researcher)
45. Anand Sivaraman (Entrepreneur)
46. Nandini Nayak (School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London)
47. Mohan Bhagat (Professor, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park)
48. Arshad Ajmal (Sahulat Microfinance Society)
49. Jayant Thakur (Lawyer)
50. Arudra Burra (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles
51. Sharukh Alam (The Patna Collective)
52. Vikalp Mishra (University of Alabama, Huntsville)
53. Anuj Grover (AID Delhi)
54. Anjani Kumar
55. R. Selva Ganapathy (AID Delhi)
56. Pritish Bose (Shramajibee Samanvay Committee, West Bengal)
57. Dr. Shakeel Rahman (CHARM, Patna)
58. Ranjan (Nidan, Bihar)
59. Albert Joseph, Executive Director, FVTRS
60. L.S Ghonoidoss, Sucwlworn, West Bengal
61. Fr. Anthony Karik, President, FVTRS, West Bengal
62. Pradeep Mahapatra, Udyama, Orissa
63. PAHAD
64. Dillip Verma Bal, SRUJAN, Orissa
65. Fr. Corlls Gonsalves, Don Bosco, Maharastra
66. Levkish Viaka, Amar Shaheed Chitra Sangathan, Uttar Pradesh
67. K. Mahasa Sundra, Pondicherry
68. Nandkumar Dhande, Priyadasshum, Maharastra
69. Darade Sunil, Maharashtra Jantik Shishan Ahmadnagar
70. P Kampe, Byancun Sena
71. Dragpal Singh, HVSS
72. Anna John, SRWD, West Bengal
73. Khairuinsa N Shan, KDDC, Karnataka
74. R Y Swamy Naik, HELP Hirigur, Karnataka
75. Sr. Cecil, Christ Raja Ashram, Rajasthan
76. Angumahato, Lokhit Sen, Jharkhand
77. Sachi Kumari, CSS , Jharkhand
78. H F Akki, NEEDS
79. M H Angakri, Sarvodya, Karnataka
80. D G Chibbori, I W S Karnataka
81. G Chabradhururao, Y C D Andhra Pradesh
82. Karamat Ali Khan, NIPDIT, Orissa
83. Sr. Annie Davis, Uttar Pradesh
84. Henry Sach, St. Joseph’s Convent College, Jharkand
85. A. Isac Singh, SWAN, Tamil Nadu
86. Sr. Ann Maria, Kristi Jyoti
87. Mohinuddin Shah, West Bengal
88. Fr. Sir P Job, ADCI S W Society, Kerela
89. Hardkishore Prasad, Rajasthan
90. Sohrab, GRASS
91. Sukhbal Singh, GRASS
92. Fr. Sukumar, KECYKS (West Bengal)
93. Ancul, GRASS
94. Gouulananda Ojha India Development Project, Orissa
95. Nasim Ansari, Tarun Cletra, Uttar Pradesh
96. Sr. Mabul Pinto, Karnataka
97. Anpama, Jharkand
98. Sr. Sadhana, Uttar Pradesh
99. Hari Shankar Rant, Kandhamal, Orissa
100. Suraj Singh, Uttar Pradesh
101. Fr. K. D Joseph, KDSSS, Andhra Pradesh
102. Arun Kumawat, Rajasthan
103. Udaiveer VishwaKumar, Sahas Sewa Sansthan, Uttar Pradesh
104. Senastian K, Jeevana, Kerela
105. Fr. Regimon Cyriac, SVS, Jharkhand
106. C. P Nicholas, FVTRS, Bangalore
107. Dr. P . Basak, FVTRS, Karnataka
108. B.K Panda, FVTRS, Karnataka
109. H.R Sunny, FVTRS, Uttar Pradesh
110. Prem Kumar Sinha, The Vigil, Bihar
111. S. Paranjhotay, CNI-SS, Nagpur
112. S Nageshwar, FVTRS
113. Subodh Kumar Pandey, AGYVS, Bihar
114. Fr. Veeresh, SMSSS, Karnataka
115. Francis Anthony, Institute of Social Research and Development, Madhya Pradesh
116. Shinoj PC, COD, Calicut
117. Sasikumar PB, Shvoyas, Kerela
118. Rosara Mohanti, Kalahandi Orissa
119. Pramila Patna, Kalahandi Orissa
120. Amrendra Kumar, SVWST, Jharkhand
121. Akokla Insorg, FVTRS
122. Prashanth, FVTRS, Bangalore
123. Arpana Bharti, FVTRS, Bangalore
124. Ankur Kachhwana, FVTRS, Jodhpur
125. Raju Teron, FVTRS
126. K Vijaya, VMMIL, Tamil Nadu
127. Sr. Sumitha, Krupalaya, Tamil Nadu
128. Biswaji Padhi, SRUSTI, Orissa
129. S Charides, WEEDS, Tamil Nadu
130. Rishi Riddhi Anhata, Shamayiti, West Bengal
131. Prajnamita, Shamayiti, West Bengal
132. Akhilesh Mishra, FVTRS, Rajasthan
133. L Pankajakshan, Santhigram, Kerela
134. A Isac Sinwalt, SWAN, Kanyakumari
135. Ram Shram Verma, LJSS, Uttar Pradesh
136. Pramod Kumar, Samchit Vikas Sansthan Basti, Uttar Pradesh
137. Raghuveer Acharta, FVTRS, Andhra Pradesh
138. Diviana Nayagi G, FVTRS, Karnataka
139. Usha R, FVTRS, Karnataka
140. Pawan k, Gurgaon
141. Trilochan Shastry, Dean, IIMB
142. Prof. Jean Dreze, Allahabad University
143. ICAN
144. Gabriele, D.
145. Madhulika Swami, Delhi
146. Nalini Nayak, Reader, PGDAV College, University of Delhi
147. Prof Pulin B. Nayak, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
148. Ashutosh Swami, General Manager (Retd)Indian Railways
149. Dr. Urvi, Medical Professional, USA
150. Gautam Desai, USA
151. Dr. Rahul Thakur, Medical Professional, USA
Contact Persons:
Ruchi Gupta 9910206490
Shreya Bhattacharya 9811108328
Kamayani Swami 09771950248
For further information, please see the links below:
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html
http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf
Rural job scheme minimum wage revised, risking inflation
spiral by Ruhi Tewari & Asit Ranjan Mishra, Livemint, 7 January,
2011, http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html
World Bank sees NREGA as a barrier to economic development, The Economic Times, 15 March, 2009, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms
http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html
Minimum Wages under MGNREGA demanded, SamayLive, 19 January, 2011, http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676481042/mgnrega-minimum-wages-nmml-sitaram-yechury-montek-singh-ahluwali.html
NREGA is flawed: Rawat by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 19 January, 2011, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nrega-is-flawed-rawat/422254/
Abhijeet Sen, Member, Planning Commission interviewed by Rupashree Nanda, http://www.im4change.org/interviews/abhijeet-sen-member-planning-commission-interviewed-by-rupashree-nanda-4744.html
Increasing cases of irregularities in MGNREGS, The Hindu, 7 December, 2010, http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68186
States must pay minimum wages to workers under nrega: Pronab Sen by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 7 December, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/states-must-pay-minimum-wages-to-workers-under-nrega-pronab-sen/417394/
Will Unique Identity Number derail nrega? by Alok Pandey and Tanima Biswas, NDTV, 2 December, 2010, http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002
Rajasthan govt to impose penalty for delaying MGNREGA payment, The Hindustan Times, 30 November, 2010, http://www.hindustantimes.com/Raj-govt-to-impose-penalty-for-delaying-MGNREGA-payment/Article1-632811.aspx
‘Keep UID out of MGNREGA', The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece
The biggest NREGA scam in Rajasthan
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/the-biggest-mnrega-scam-in-rajasthan-1911.html
Social audit of NREGS in Araria reveals corruption
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/social-audit-of-nregs-in-araria-reveals-corruption-870.html
Poor people unite against corrupt sarpanches
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/poor-people-unite-against-corrupt-sarpanches-777.html
Is NREGA II a product of a complacent UPA II?
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/debate-is-nregs-ii-a-product-of-a-complacent-upa-ii-114.html
www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40990562/Annexure-4-Open-Letter-From-Eminent-Jurists-and-Lawyers
Centre to step in Rajasthan Mnregs wage row by K Balchand, The Hindu, 10 October, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm
Mazdoor Satyagrah demands accountability panel, The Times of India, 9 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms
Activists to send low wage feat' to Guinness, The Times of India, 7 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms
NREGS: Activists demand action on anomalies, The Times of India, 6 October, 2010, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode
Less than min wages for NREGA workers unconstitutional: Govt by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 5 October, 2010,
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode
Ensure minimum wages to NREGA workers: Activists by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 4 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms
No guarantees anymore by Sowmya Sivakumar, The Hindu, 3 October, 2010,
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm
Labourers go on indefinite strike, press for demands, The Times of India, 3 October, 2010,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms
The mass job guarantee by Aruna Roy & Nachiket Udupa, Himal Magazine, October, 2010,
http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html
Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892
'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms
NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/
MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm
States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp
Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html
Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx
Fear of Freedom by Ruchi Gupta, Hard News, 11 January, 2011, http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/01/3799
Open Statement for immediate release to the press January 18th, 2011
Government of India Must Immediately Stop Perpetuating Forced/Bonded Labour
We the undersigned are deeply distressed at the recent
decision by the Prime Minister (in a letter dated 31st December 2010) to
delink MGNREGA wages from the Minimum Wages Act even while indexing the
wage rate under NREGA to Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour.
The Government of India had already undermined the wages under NREGA
through a January 2009 notification, when it imposed an unjust freeze at
an arbitrary rate of Rs 100 per day on its wages. The Government of
India’s use of Section 6(1) to delink NREGA wages from the Minimum Wage
Act is not just bad in law but is also immoral in so far as it seeks to
remove the basis of Constitutional and legal protection of the lowest
end of workers in the wage hierarchy. With a consistent near double
digit inflation rate, touching 9.7% and even higher food price inflation
the frozen NREGA wage, over the last 24 months has been significantly
eroded in real terms. In fact even after the recent indexing of wages,
the MGNREGS wage, in at least 11 states, is lower than the prevailing
state minimum wage-- a situation that the Supreme Court of India has
declared to be forced labour, prohibited under Article 23 of the
Constitution.
As it is even State minimum wages have also been
artificially depressed, without any rationale, and ignore the minimum
need-based norms proposed in 1957 by the 15th Indian Labour Conference.
These norms were not only endorsed by the Supreme Court but further
enhanced by additional 20% in the Unichoy Vs State of Kerala in 1961 and
25% in the Reptakos Brett vs their workmen in 1991. If these norms are
followed, given current rural prices, the minimum wage would be at least
Rs. 250 per day. But the Government of India has not only blatantly
disregarded these minimum wage setting norms, but is continuing to pay a
meagre real wage of just Rs. 100 per day since January 2009 under
NREGA.
There is overwhelming legal and political consensus on the need to pay minimum wage in MGNREGS works:
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court in WP No. 11848/2009
suspended the January 2009 notification on freezing the minimum wage for
NREGA. The High Court stated that Government being the agency for
implementing minimum wages cannot itself violate the minimum wages. In
addition, governments of Tripura, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh had also requested an amendment of the
January 2009 notification as their state minimum wages were above the
notified wage rate. Both the Government of India and the state
Government of Andhra Pradesh are facing contempt proceedings since.
• GoI’s own law officer, the Additional Solicitor
General, Ms. Indira Jaising referring to the PUDR Vs Union of India case
and Article 23 of the Constitution of India has said that payment of
less than minimum wage in NREGA works will amount to forced labour. She
also cited the Kamani Metals and Alloys vs their workmen case in which
the Supreme Court observed that minimum wage must be paid ‘irrespective
of the extent of profit, the financial condition of the establishment or
the availability of workmen on lower wages.’
• Chief Ministers of the states of Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh and Kerala have written to the Prime Minister requesting MoRD’s
compliance with the Minimum Wage Act
• The Chairperson of UPA, Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has
written to the Prime Minister calling his attention to find urgent
resolution of this matter.
• The Labour Ministry has reiterated its “fundamental
objection” to Section 6(1), warning that using 6(1) to allow payment of
less than prevailing state minimum wage will not stand legal scrutiny.
• The National Advisory Council, headed by Mrs. Gandhi, also recommended that minimum wages be paid to NREGS workers.
• 15 eminent jurists and lawyers including M N
Venkatachaliah and J S Verma (both former Chief Justice of India), V R
Krishna Iyer, P B Sawant, K Ramaswamy, Santosh Hegde (all former judges
of the Supreme Court), A P Shah (former Chief Justice of Delhi High
Court) and Dr. Upendra Baxi, Dr. Mohan Gopal, Fali S Nariman, Prashant
Bhushan, Brinda Grover and others have urged the Government of India to
immediately revoke its unconstitutional notification and along with
state governments ensure that minimum wages are paid to all workers in
India.
The Ministry of Finance in its letters dated December 1
and December 6, 2010 has stated that the Government will index the Rs
100 with inflation using wages as of April 1, 2009 as base for
notification on January 1, 2011. While indexing wages with inflation
recognises the fall in real wages, it will not resolve the core issue.
The Prime Minister has asked the rural development
ministry to develop an index for fixing and revising wages under rural
job scheme NREGA. Till the new index is worked out, wages under the
scheme will be tied to inflation as measured by the consumer price index
for agricultural labourers. The order will be effective from January 1,
2011. A committee under the chairmanship of Pronab Sen has been formed
to devise an NREGA wage index. This is in itself worrisome as it will
create yet another category of categorising workers and thereby
institutionalizing the discrimination.
The government’s refusal to pay even minimum wage on
public works at a time when food prices keep shooting up lays bare the
Prime Minister’s promise that “no citizen of our country must sleep
hungry”. Moreover it is shocking that a government battling trust
deficit as scam after scam privileging powerful corporations become
public, will let (comparatively minor) fiscal considerations override a
constitutional and humanitarian mandate.
We demand the Government of India:
1. Immediately implements Section 6(2) of the NREGA
indexed to inflation in all states thereby upholding the fundamental
right to live of its poorest workers.
2. Immediately declares a national floor level need based
wage based on the 15th ILC norms and subsequent Supreme Court
judgements on minimum wage fixation, below which no state minimum wage
can go.
1. Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan)
2. Biraj Patnaik (Principal Adviser, Supreme Court Commissioners)
3. Kavita Srivastava (People’s Union for Civil Liberties)
4. Arundhati Dhuru (National Alliance of People’s Movements)
5. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan
6. Anuradha Talwar (Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity)
7. Dunu Roy (Hazards Centre)
8. Gautam Mody (New Trade Union Initiative)
9. Roma (National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers)
10. Sandeep Pandey (Asha Pariwar)
11. Pradeep Baisakh (Journalist)
12. Yogendra Yadav (Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies)
13. Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian Women)
14. Mythri Prasad- Aleyamma (Centre for Development Studies)
15. Sunil Kaul (The Ant)
16. Kamal Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
17. Anuradha Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
18. Ambarish Rai (Lok Sangharsh Morcha)
19. Dr. Rukmini Rao (Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Secunderabad)
20. Anurag Modi and Shamim Modi (Samajwadi Jan Parsihad, Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Shramik Adivasi Sanghthan)
21. Sachin Kumar Jain (Vikas Samwad)
22. Dr. Yogesh Kumar (Samarthan, Bhopal)
23. Kaveri Gill (Independent Development Economist and Researcher)
24. Madhuri (Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan)
25. Noor Zaheer (Writer and Social Activist)
26. Ashish Ranjan and Kamayani Swami (Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, Bihar)
27. Dipa Sinha (Reseach Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University)
28. Nandlal Prasad (Lok Samiti, Varanasi)Ajay Patel (Mazdoor Manch/AASRA)
29. Ankita Aggarwal (Right to Food Campaign Secretariat)
30. Jawahar Mehta (Jharkhand Gramin Mazdoor Sangh)
31. Abhay Kumar (Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane)
32. Richa Singh (Sangtin Kisan Majdoor Sangthan Sitapur)
33. Reetika Khera (Visitor, Centre for Development Economics)
34. Karuna Muthiah (Right to Food Campaign, Tamil Nadu)
35. K.B.Singh (Social Worker, Madhya Pradesh)
36. Arun Tyagi (Jan Pahal, Madhya Pradesh)
37. Ishtiyaque Ahmad (Amam Trust)
38. Rupesh (Lok Parishad, Bihar)
39. Prof Om P Damani (IIT Bombay)
40. Anirban Kar (Economics Department, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University)
41. Sowmya Kidambi (Director, SSAAT, Government of Andhra Pradesh)
42. Kundan Kumar (Senior Project Manager, Igate Global Solutions)
43. Guru (AID Bangalore)
44. Anindita (NREGA Researcher)
45. Anand Sivaraman (Entrepreneur)
46. Nandini Nayak (School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London)
47. Mohan Bhagat (Professor, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park)
48. Arshad Ajmal (Sahulat Microfinance Society)
49. Jayant Thakur (Lawyer)
50. Arudra Burra (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles
51. Sharukh Alam (The Patna Collective)
52. Vikalp Mishra (University of Alabama, Huntsville)
53. Anuj Grover (AID Delhi)
54. Anjani Kumar
55. R. Selva Ganapathy (AID Delhi)
56. Pritish Bose (Shramajibee Samanvay Committee, West Bengal)
57. Dr. Shakeel Rahman (CHARM, Patna)
58. Ranjan (Nidan, Bihar)
59. Albert Joseph, Executive Director, FVTRS
60. L.S Ghonoidoss, Sucwlworn, West Bengal
61. Fr. Anthony Karik, President, FVTRS, West Bengal
62. Pradeep Mahapatra, Udyama, Orissa
63. PAHAD
64. Dillip Verma Bal, SRUJAN, Orissa
65. Fr. Corlls Gonsalves, Don Bosco, Maharastra
66. Levkish Viaka, Amar Shaheed Chitra Sangathan, Uttar Pradesh
67. K. Mahasa Sundra, Pondicherry
68. Nandkumar Dhande, Priyadasshum, Maharastra
69. Darade Sunil, Maharashtra Jantik Shishan Ahmadnagar
70. P Kampe, Byancun Sena
71. Dragpal Singh, HVSS
72. Anna John, SRWD, West Bengal
73. Khairuinsa N Shan, KDDC, Karnataka
74. R Y Swamy Naik, HELP Hirigur, Karnataka
75. Sr. Cecil, Christ Raja Ashram, Rajasthan
76. Angumahato, Lokhit Sen, Jharkhand
77. Sachi Kumari, CSS , Jharkhand
78. H F Akki, NEEDS
79. M H Angakri, Sarvodya, Karnataka
80. D G Chibbori, I W S Karnataka
81. G Chabradhururao, Y C D Andhra Pradesh
82. Karamat Ali Khan, NIPDIT, Orissa
83. Sr. Annie Davis, Uttar Pradesh
84. Henry Sach, St. Joseph’s Convent College, Jharkand
85. A. Isac Singh, SWAN, Tamil Nadu
86. Sr. Ann Maria, Kristi Jyoti
87. Mohinuddin Shah, West Bengal
88. Fr. Sir P Job, ADCI S W Society, Kerela
89. Hardkishore Prasad, Rajasthan
90. Sohrab, GRASS
91. Sukhbal Singh, GRASS
92. Fr. Sukumar, KECYKS (West Bengal)
93. Ancul, GRASS
94. Gouulananda Ojha India Development Project, Orissa
95. Nasim Ansari, Tarun Cletra, Uttar Pradesh
96. Sr. Mabul Pinto, Karnataka
97. Anpama, Jharkand
98. Sr. Sadhana, Uttar Pradesh
99. Hari Shankar Rant, Kandhamal, Orissa
100. Suraj Singh, Uttar Pradesh
101. Fr. K. D Joseph, KDSSS, Andhra Pradesh
102. Arun Kumawat, Rajasthan
103. Udaiveer VishwaKumar, Sahas Sewa Sansthan, Uttar Pradesh
104. Senastian K, Jeevana, Kerela
105. Fr. Regimon Cyriac, SVS, Jharkhand
106. C. P Nicholas, FVTRS, Bangalore
107. Dr. P . Basak, FVTRS, Karnataka
108. B.K Panda, FVTRS, Karnataka
109. H.R Sunny, FVTRS, Uttar Pradesh
110. Prem Kumar Sinha, The Vigil, Bihar
111. S. Paranjhotay, CNI-SS, Nagpur
112. S Nageshwar, FVTRS
113. Subodh Kumar Pandey, AGYVS, Bihar
114. Fr. Veeresh, SMSSS, Karnataka
115. Francis Anthony, Institute of Social Research and Development, Madhya Pradesh
116. Shinoj PC, COD, Calicut
117. Sasikumar PB, Shvoyas, Kerela
118. Rosara Mohanti, Kalahandi Orissa
119. Pramila Patna, Kalahandi Orissa
120. Amrendra Kumar, SVWST, Jharkhand
121. Akokla Insorg, FVTRS
122. Prashanth, FVTRS, Bangalore
123. Arpana Bharti, FVTRS, Bangalore
124. Ankur Kachhwana, FVTRS, Jodhpur
125. Raju Teron, FVTRS
126. K Vijaya, VMMIL, Tamil Nadu
127. Sr. Sumitha, Krupalaya, Tamil Nadu
128. Biswaji Padhi, SRUSTI, Orissa
129. S Charides, WEEDS, Tamil Nadu
130. Rishi Riddhi Anhata, Shamayiti, West Bengal
131. Prajnamita, Shamayiti, West Bengal
132. Akhilesh Mishra, FVTRS, Rajasthan
133. L Pankajakshan, Santhigram, Kerela
134. A Isac Sinwalt, SWAN, Kanyakumari
135. Ram Shram Verma, LJSS, Uttar Pradesh
136. Pramod Kumar, Samchit Vikas Sansthan Basti, Uttar Pradesh
137. Raghuveer Acharta, FVTRS, Andhra Pradesh
138. Diviana Nayagi G, FVTRS, Karnataka
139. Usha R, FVTRS, Karnataka
140. Pawan k, Gurgaon
141. Trilochan Shastry, Dean, IIMB
142. Prof. Jean Dreze, Allahabad University
143. ICAN
144. Gabriele, D.
145. Madhulika Swami, Delhi
146. Nalini Nayak, Reader, PGDAV College, University of Delhi
147. Prof Pulin B. Nayak, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
148. Ashutosh Swami, General Manager (Retd)Indian Railways
149. Dr. Urvi, Medical Professional, USA
150. Gautam Desai, USA
151. Dr. Rahul Thakur, Medical Professional, USA
Contact Persons:
Ruchi Gupta 9910206490
Shreya Bhattacharya 9811108328
Kamayani Swami 09771950248
For further information, please see the links below:
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html
http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf
Rural job scheme minimum wage revised, risking inflation
spiral by Ruhi Tewari & Asit Ranjan Mishra, Livemint, 7 January,
2011, http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html
World Bank sees NREGA as a barrier to economic development, The Economic Times, 15 March, 2009, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms
http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html
Minimum Wages under MGNREGA demanded, SamayLive, 19 January, 2011, http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676481042/mgnrega-minimum-wages-nmml-sitaram-yechury-montek-singh-ahluwali.html
NREGA is flawed: Rawat by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 19 January, 2011, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nrega-is-flawed-rawat/422254/
Abhijeet Sen, Member, Planning Commission interviewed by Rupashree Nanda, http://www.im4change.org/interviews/abhijeet-sen-member-planning-commission-interviewed-by-rupashree-nanda-4744.html
Increasing cases of irregularities in MGNREGS, The Hindu, 7 December, 2010, http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68186
States must pay minimum wages to workers under nrega: Pronab Sen by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 7 December, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/states-must-pay-minimum-wages-to-workers-under-nrega-pronab-sen/417394/
Will Unique Identity Number derail nrega? by Alok Pandey and Tanima Biswas, NDTV, 2 December, 2010, http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002
Rajasthan govt to impose penalty for delaying MGNREGA payment, The Hindustan Times, 30 November, 2010, http://www.hindustantimes.com/Raj-govt-to-impose-penalty-for-delaying-MGNREGA-payment/Article1-632811.aspx
‘Keep UID out of MGNREGA', The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece
The biggest NREGA scam in Rajasthan
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/the-biggest-mnrega-scam-in-rajasthan-1911.html
Social audit of NREGS in Araria reveals corruption
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/social-audit-of-nregs-in-araria-reveals-corruption-870.html
Poor people unite against corrupt sarpanches
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/poor-people-unite-against-corrupt-sarpanches-777.html
Is NREGA II a product of a complacent UPA II?
http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/debate-is-nregs-ii-a-product-of-a-complacent-upa-ii-114.html
www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40990562/Annexure-4-Open-Letter-From-Eminent-Jurists-and-Lawyers
Centre to step in Rajasthan Mnregs wage row by K Balchand, The Hindu, 10 October, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm
Mazdoor Satyagrah demands accountability panel, The Times of India, 9 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms
Activists to send low wage feat' to Guinness, The Times of India, 7 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms
NREGS: Activists demand action on anomalies, The Times of India, 6 October, 2010, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode
Less than min wages for NREGA workers unconstitutional: Govt by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 5 October, 2010,
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode
Ensure minimum wages to NREGA workers: Activists by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 4 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms
No guarantees anymore by Sowmya Sivakumar, The Hindu, 3 October, 2010,
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm
Labourers go on indefinite strike, press for demands, The Times of India, 3 October, 2010,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms
The mass job guarantee by Aruna Roy & Nachiket Udupa, Himal Magazine, October, 2010,
http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html
Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892
'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms
NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/
MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm
States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp
Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html
Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx
Fear of Freedom by Ruchi Gupta, Hard News, 11 January, 2011, http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/01/3799
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