UPDATE 22

Dear Friends,

Many events have happened in the past month or two that we were not able to report. We hope to catch up with some of them in the next few updates. In this update, we wish to catch up with the current events quickly.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

1. DHARANA IN JAIPUR FOR RIGHT TO WORK

2. MID-DAY MEALS IN KARNATAKA – THE CASTE TROUBLE

3. PUBLIC HEARING IN WEST BENGAL

4. DHARANA IN MADHYA PRADESH OVER CORRUPTION IN RELIEF WORKS

5. ORISSA - JOINT ENQUIRY REPORT ON IRREGULARITIES IN EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAMMES

1. DHARANA IN JAIPUR FOR RIGHT TO WORK

A dharna for the right to work and related demands began in Jaipur on 16 August. The dharna is led by Akal Sangharsh Samiti, a network of 70 Rajasthan-based organisations. The main demand is an Employment Guarantee Act for Rajasthan. However, the dharna has also taken up related issues such as: (1) tribal evictions from forest land; (2) continuation of relief works until the next harvest; (3) an improved right to information law; (4) a fair and transparent procedure to update and correct electoral rolls; (5) shrinking of city space for democratic protest.

On the first day of the dharna, a number of participants fasted in solidarity with Anna Hazare, who was on an indefinite fast in Mumbai at that time. Anna Hazare was fasting for the enactment and
improvement of Maharashtra's "right to information act". The fast was a success and Maharashtra now has one of the best right to information acts in the country. The right to information issue also
figures prominently in the Jaipur dharna, and was even the object of a full public hearing on 18 August.

Also on the first day of the dharna, a delegation met Mr. Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of  Rajasthan. Regarding tribal evictions, the Chief Minister told the delegation that eviction notices would be withdrawn and that no eviction notice would be issued without a full verification of the facts. He also addressed the other demands and assured the delegation that he would pursue these matters.

On the issue of employment guarantee, the Chief Minister said that he was himself keen on the idea, provided that the central government supplied free grain for it. He mentioned that he had
pleaded the case for an employment guarantee with the central government. Indeed, he felt that it was the only lasting solution to poverty and hunger. The delegation tried to persuade him that the
state government should take the first step in introducing an employment guarantee, and that what was needed was a legal guarantee and not just a scheme.

The dharna continues and will be in place until the end of the forthcoming Assembly session, which starts on 21 August.

2. MID-DAY MEALS IN KARNATAKA – THE CASTE TROUBLE
In keeping with the trend of increasing coverage of mid-day meals, Karnataka has introduced cooked meals thought the state this academic session. The expanded coverage has come with its set of teething trouble. While it appears that the logistical issues are being taken care of, the caste angle is taking worrisome shape in many districts. In Tumkur District for example, several Dalit cooks have been replaced for casteist reasons, following protests from upper caste parents. Members of the Right to Food Campaign in Karnataka have been taking the issue up actively. The commissioners have also intervened in their fourth report, asking for reinstating all Dalit cooks who have been removed, ensuring that at least half the new appointments of cooks and helpers are Dalits, and ensuring that at least 1/3rd of all the cooks and helpers in each state are
Dalits.

3. PUBLIC HEARING IN WEST BENGAL

A successful public hearing was held in Kolkatta, West Bengal, bringing together participants from across the state. The panel for the hearing included ex-chief justices of Kolkatta High Court, and the Manipur High Court; eminent economists, an ex-MP, among others. The panel has submitted its interim report, which indicts the West Bengal government strongly for its inaction in various fronts.

The commission listened to issues put forward by people on various fronts. Many issues were raised on the public distribution system. People complained that shops continued to open erratically, despite the directions of the court to open on all working days for a regular fixed duration. The quality of grain was left wanting, and often they were overcharged for the grain they received. Complaints made to the local officials and even the BDO were of no avail.

The commission was of the opinion that little was done to spread information about the  entitlements, and as a result, most people do not know about the schemes. Even when they had information, on many occasions people were not able to receive their entitlements due to
non-cooperation by the local agencies. The commission candidly concluded that little was being done to implement the directions of the Supreme Court, and what little people were able to get was due to collective action they organised to receive their entitlements.

4. DHARANA IN MADHYA PRADESH OVER CORRUPTION IN RELIEF WORKS

Barwani District has been a scene of action in the past few months. Adivasi Mukthi Sangathan has been trying to receive copies of muster rolls and other documents pertaining to relief works in the area. The Administration has been denying access to records for the past year continuously. After the commissioner intervened, the administration asked the sangathan to pay over Rs. 22,000 to access the muster rolls for just three projects. Convinced that there is tremendous corruption in the area, and that the collector of the district is involved deeply in it, the sangathan has taken on the collision course now. An eight-day dharana was organised in the district headquarters, followed by a large rally. A delegation has also gone to meet the Chief Minister to press their demands for an enquiry. In the meanwhile, the commissioners have asked for the
pricing of the muster rolls to be reduced to reasonable levels to make them accessible to all.

5. ORISSA - JOINT ENQUIRY REPORT ON IRREGULARITIES IN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES

Following complaints made by villagers on corruption in sundergarh district of Orissa, the commissioners asked for a joint enquiry committee to be set by the State with one representative of the commissioner in the team. The committee enquired into the irregularities in SGRY in the alleged areas, and has submitted its report recently. The report of the independent member will shortly be made available on the website (www.righttofood.com).

The commissioners received a complaint of irregularities in SGRY in Sundargarh District of Orissa. The complainant was able to access the muster rolls, when they found various fake entries in them. The commissioners' intervention was sought based on the fake musters, and a request was made to ensure that people who have not yet received the wages should be paid immediately. The commissioners took up the issue with the Government of Orissa and demanded a joint enquiry. Acting upon it immediately, the state set up a committee along with a representative of the commissioner.

The report of the independent member of the committee brings out various irregularities in the implementation of SGRY, including: Fudging of muster rolls, and embezzlement of funds; People had to travel fifteen kilometres to collect the grain component of their wages; Many projects were started without formal sanctions; Wages are not paid within one week of work done, and the payment is highly irregular; A contractor Mr. D.D. Banarjee was used for the projects in contravention of the rules; Lack of basic amenities including drinking water, crèche and basic medical facilities; Poor monitoring and irresponsive administration that chose to ignore repeated
complaints by villagers; Payment of different wages for men and women by the contractor.

The good news is that the Govt of Orissa was responsive to the commissioner and an enquiry was promptly set up. It remains to be seen as to what measures the government will take based on the findings of the enquiry.