Dear friends,

This is another two-part Update, with the first part (this one) focusing on "employment guarantee". Things are moving fast on that front (sometimes forward, sometimes backward), and much suspense is expected in the next few weeks. There are mixed signals from the government: high-profile public announcements to the effect that a national Employment Guarantee Act will come into effect in April 2004, but also alarming signs of backroom sabotage in various quarters. The "employment guarantee" section of the website (www.righttofoodindia.org) is being updated as frequently as possible, please take a look from time to time if you are interested in this issue.

(For those who are new to the issue: the proposed Employment Guarantee Act is a law whereby anyone who is willing to do casual manual work at the statutory minimum wage would be entitled to being employed on public works within 15 days - or failing that, to an unemployment allowance.)

Today's headlines:

1. Feedback from 16 October

2. EGA Convention in Delhi (19 October)

3. December ka Dhamaka (Human Rights Day)

4. Banner project

5. "EGA Made Simple"

6. Latest material on EGA

7. Indefinite fast begins in Aurangabad

8. What is happening to the draft Act?

1. Feedback from 16 October

As mentioned in earlier updates, it was resolved at the Bhopal convention last June that activities focusing on the demand for an Employment Guarantee Act would be held on or around 16 October (World Food Day). Scattered reports from different parts of the country suggest that there has been a fair amount of follow-up action in many places, helping to put the issue on the political agenda and laying the ground for further action in the next few months. For instance, in Madhya Pradesh regional meetings and demonstrations were held in Bhopal, Shivpuri, Jhabua, Dhar, Tikamgarh and Badwani among other places. In Rajasthan, workers symbolically "registered" for employment at the local block or district offices. In Hyderabad, Dalit organisations held a public meeting on employment guarantee. State conventions on employment guarantee have also taken place in many states during the period leading to 16 October. We are without news of what happened in West Bengal. In response to enquiries, we have received the following message: "We are closing down for Puja holidays - everything including activism comes to a stop, otherwise one stands in danger of being considered a social pariah".

In Delhi, it was felt that 16 October was not a very promising date as public attention was expected to focus on the Maharashtra elections. Instead a convention on employment guarantee was held on 19 October - see next item.

2. EGA Convention in Delhi (19 October)

A convention on the Employment Guarantee Act, convened by SAHMAT, took place at the Constitution Club in Delhi on 19 October 2004. The hall was packed and all the participants were united in their demand for the immediate adoption of a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act. Speakers included Suneet Chopra, Jean Dreze, Sehba Farooqi, Jayati Ghosh, Brinda Karat, Medha Patkar, Prabhat Patnaik, D. Raja, Jairam Ramesh, Aruna Roy, Arundhati Roy, Dunu Roy, Sukhdev Thorat, and Sitaram Yechury.

The speakers represented a wide range of parties and organisations, but with minor differences, they shared a common perspective on the Employment Guarantee Act (EGA). This perspective is expressed in the resolution adopted at the Convention. This resolution outlines the key, "non-negotiable" features of an acceptable EGA. These include a permanent and universal work guarantee, extension to the whole of India within three years, payment of minimum wages in all circumstances, central government funding, safeguards for the interests of women, decentralised implementation, and full transparency at all levels, among other features. The resolution is available on the website (www.righttofoodindia.org/rtowork/convention19oct04/statement.html), along with a report on the convention (www.righttofoodindia.org/rtowork/convention19oct04/report19oct04convention.html). A more detailed report is expected to appear in Frontline very soon.

The convention ended with a call for action on 10 December (Human Rights Day). All the organisations represented at the convention are expected to join forces that day in a strong expression of popular demand for an immediate and full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act.

3. December ka Dhamaka (Human Rights Day)

Much has already happened following the call for action on 10 December, made at the convention. Organisations around the country have started planning various activities to highlight the right to work as a human right and demand the immediate adoption of a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act: demonstrations, padyatras, signature campaigns, public meetings, symbolic registration for work at Block and District offices, and more.

The timing is likely to be more than appropriate, because the draft Employment Guarantee Bill is due to be tabled in Parliament in early December (the Winter Session starts on 1 December). A strong expression of public demand for an EGA could be quite crucial to overcome whatever opposition or obstacles may arise. All individuals and organisations committed to the right to work are invited to join in this solidarity event.

It has also been suggested that 10 December event could be followed up by further demonstrations later on, including country-wide padyatras around March or April. The idea of country-wide padyatras is being explored and it is hoped that a plan of action will emerge before 10 December.

4. Banner project

Another idea came up on 19 October, and found wide support. The idea is to collect signatures (demanding an EGA) on banners from all over the country, from now until 10 December. After 10 December, the banners will be brought to Delhi and tied together for a creative public display of "people's voices from around the country".

The details are being worked and further information on this will follow in part 2 of this update. Meanwhile, please consider getting hold of a few light coloured old saris for the purpose of collecting signatures. Using old saris (or banners of the same size) will ensure that all the banners are of roughly similar size, and this will make for better visual effects.

5. "EGA Made Simple"

Another useful offshoot of the 19 October convention is a "primer" on the Employment Guarantee Act: a reader-friendly introduction to the draft Act, written in simple question-answer form. The primer is addressed to a wide audience, from train passengers to Members of Parliament. The English version is already on the website (www.righttofoodindia.org/data/egaprimer.doc), and a Hindi translation is on the anvil. Feel free to download, copy, adapt, translate, rewrite, illustrate, disseminate, whatever - there is no copyright!

The primer will be mass-printed very soon. If you are interested in bulk copies, please send a line to righttofood@gmail.com

6. Latest material on EGA

The "Employment Guarantee" section of the campaign website (www.righttofoodindia.org) continues to grow, with new material being added every few days. Recent additions include:

- The "primer" on EGA (see previous item).

- Sample posters, pamphlets, etc., for campaign purposes.

- Report from the 19 October convention and also the resolution adopted at the convention.

- An on-line petition to the Prime Minister.

- An updated version of the "summary of comments received" on the draft EGA.

7. Indefinite fast begins in Aurangabad (Maharashtra)

The following message was received a few days ago from Subhash Lomte (National Campaign Committee of Rural Workers): "We are on indefinite HUNGER STRIKE from tommorow ie. from 28th Oct.2004,for Non-distribution of 1000 mTonns of wheat to the workers of the Employment Gaurantee works.About 100 rural activists are going to be there in this hunger strike.This will take place before Aurangabad Collectore office and the agitation will be on till they distribute the whole amount of Wheat to the EGS WORKERS."

8. What is happening to the draft Act?

For those who have lost track of the ups and downs of the draft Employment Guarantee Act, we recapitulate briefly the main events so far (for further details see www.righttofoodindia.org):

(1) The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the UPA government includes a pledge to "immediately enact a national Employment Guarantee Act".

(2) In mid-July, a draft National Rural Employment Guarantee Act prepared by activists from the right to food campaign and other concerned citizens was prepared and circulated for public discussion.

(3) On 15 August 2004, the National Advisory Council submitted a modified draft to the Prime Minister's Office (this draft includes the initial limit of "100 days per household per year" on guaranteed employment, in line with the CMP)

(4) Further revisions were made by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The MoRD draft is yet to be made public. According to sources, it has recently been sent for comment to different Ministries and some of the responses are far from enthusiastic. The Finance Ministry in particular is not amused.

(5) The draft EGA is supposed to be tabled in Parliament during the Winter Session, which starts on 1 December 2004. According to recent announcements, the Act is supposed to come into force on 1 April 2005. But as Arundhati Roy pointed out at the Delhi convention on 19 October, electoral politics in India is "a history of broken promises", so the time is not to celebrate but to organise.