8th June 2009

INTERIM REPORT OF NREGA SAHAYTA KENDRA,

CHATTARPUR
NREGA Sahayta Kendra was opened in Chattarpur Block, Palamau on the 22nd of May 2009
in the Block office compound. The Kendra manages complaints related to NREGA works
and workers from all the panchayats of Chattarpur. Acting as a facilitator the Kendra begins
proceedings at 8a.m. everyday (except Sundays) and continues into the evening till 5p.m.

I. How NREGA Sahayta Kendra works

Duties at the Kendra are performed by student volunteers and local volunteers working
together.

Filing System: In order to efficiently receive complaints the Kendra operates with 4 counters
dedicated to -
• Complaints
• Job Card Applications
• Work Applications
• Others

Correspondingly 4 different files are maintained for recording the above by the Kendra and
receipts copy sets are also maintained for the same. There is a unique code for each
complaint/application. 4 Index Registers are maintained with information regarding the code,
date of receiving, etc.

Receivings: At the time of drafting the complaint/application a carbon copy is made for the
complainant/applicant. All complaints are duly taken receipts of the following day from the
Block Programme Officer on photo copies of the same and recorded by the Kendra in the
receipt copy sets of the above mentioned files.

Campaign Activities at the Kendra: The Kendra is well furnished with pamphlets, posters,
primers, etc. which give primary information about the Act, workers' entitlements under it,
Bank and Post Office Accounts, etc. For this purpose the Block Office provided the Kendra
with 3000posters, pamphlets (bank parcha) and primers each.

Queries and questions regarding NREGA are appreciated and entertained at the Kendra. The
Kendra also maintains a helpline number through which workers can reach it directly and
avoid any delays.

II. Summary of Complaints and Applications Received:

Workers from 30 out of 35 panchayats in Chattarpur approached the Sahayta Kendra. The
Kendra has received Job Card Applications, Work Applications and various kind of
complaints related to wage payment, PO accounts and Passbooks hoarding of Job Cards and
 Passbooks, etc. Some complaints were also received pertaining to non-payment of
unemployment allowance applications (See Enclosures).

No of Job Card Applications received: 431 from 25 GPs (till 3rd June 2009)
No of workers who applied for work: 599 from 17 GPs (till 3rd June 2009)
No of complaints received: 65 from 18 GPs (till 3rd of June 2009)

III. Action Taken by Block Office

(In accordance with Action Taken Report (ATR) for the week 23-05-09 ro 28-05-09. See Enclosures )

Job Cards: The process of verifying the action taken is underway. In most cases it has been
found that Job Cards have been made but are yet to be distributed. Some GPs have failed in
even doing so.

Work Applications: No new works have reportedly been opened. Most labourers have been
deputed on old worksites.
On the basis of ATR, 482 out of 517 workers have been deputed. On verification it was found
that out of 342 workers only about 30 (approx.) have actually got work. Reasons for this
being:
• Deputations at disputed worksites (See case of Kalapahar and Sushiganj
panchayats, Enclosure no )
• Workers being asked to ferry across to far away villages when sanctioned
works are available in and around their own village

Complaints: It is clear that only in very selected cases decisive action has been taken by the
concerned authority. (E.g. Delay in payments in 2 GPs - Dagra, Charai 1 amd FIR in case of
Job Card Hoarding in GP Dali).

This makes it clear that there is a lack of pro-activity on the part of the concerned authorities
and the tendency to be defensive to the new system being put in place. The situation implies
strict orders from the District Administration for swift and decisive redressal.

No of days taken by BPO to provide the ATR for the said week - 15

Complaints were received on a daily basis (as mentioned above) from 24th May 2009 but
action was taken only after the team handed over Panchayat wise compiled monitoring forms
to the respective GPS and GRS on the 31st of May 2009. Some report are still pending from
Panchayats Saraidih, Shahpur and Naudiha. This clearly illustrates the inefficiency and
tendency of the BPO to try and dispose off matters instead of making an effort to take
decisive action and resolve the serious grievances of the already troubled NREGA workers in
Chattarpur.

IV. Critical Issues

1. Very Low Scale of NREGA work: On thoroughly surveying 4 GPs and

travelling through more than 18, the team came across only 3 active worksites (2 of
which were 7-year afforestation schemes being run by the Forest Department). On
 verification it was found that the list provided by the Block Office for on-going
NREGA works in block Chattarpur was highly inaccurate with only one case out of
the listed 25 where work was in progress.A look at the Yojna Vivran varsh 2007-08,
2008-09 provided by the Block Office Chattarpur shows that in only 10 out of the 78
mentioned schemes half or more than half of the sanctioned amount has actually been
utilized.

2. Irregularities in Wage payments:

• Delay in Payment: The team did not come across a single worker who
claimed to have been paid on time. This is a major reason for disillusionment
with NREGA works in Chattarpur. Delays of 2-14 months have been reported
from various GPs. (See Enclosures).
• Non-Payment/Partial Payment: Many cases of said grievance have
been reported and continue to be reported by the day. Telling examples in this
respect are cases in Panchayats Dagra, Charai-1 and Hutukdag where action has
formally been taken. (See Enclosures).

3. Post Office Malfunction:

• Delay in opening accounts and issuing Passbooks: Due to said delay the whole
process of payments gets stalled. See example of delay in payment in Panchayat
Hulsum (See Enclosure no- ). Also such irregularity leads to complete
isolation (of pockets), where accounts have not been opened or passbooks not
issued, from the NREGA ambit.
• Stuck Mechanism: Huge time lapses in getting cheques cleared from Head
Post Office, Daltonganj and in getting that amount to the worker. Usually this
delay amount to more than 15 days - an effective breach of workers' rights
under the Act.
• A very serious case in point is that of a literate person required by the PO
(Chattarpur) to testify for an illeterate person that she knows the person who is
to be paid. Effectively an illiterate citizen is debarred off her right to testify for
another citizen. Workers from Rajbandh village, Panchayat Charai-1 were faced
with this erratic demand of the Post Master on 7th June in order to receive their
already delayed wages.

4. Schedule of Rates:
The team didnt come across a single worker/Mate/Rozgar Saathi (ground level
supervisors) who knew the revised rate of 54cft as a day's task. Nearly all workers
(from current and stalled worksites) reported having to complete 100cft as a day's
task. This shows a complete failure of the administration in Chattarpur due to
which workers are exploited as a matter of practice.

V. Proposed Plan of Action:

1. Realising the potential of Rozgar Divas. Practically make Rozgar Divas a

forum for:
• publicly discussing the complaints received in the Panchayat and action
taken on the same
• conducting Job Card, Work Application, Account opening drives, etc
• Awareness building (E.g. SoR)
 2. Complaint regarding corruption charges (E.g. bribery), fraud, siphoning off of
NREGA funds, etc. to be dealt with directly and strictly by the District
Administration.

3. Strict Observance of documentation norms at all level, especially including

ATRs. Defaulting authorities to be routinely penalised as per norms of Section 25
under NREGA.

4. Complaints and Applications to be dealt with the purpose of effectively

resolving the matter rather than disposing off the current task at hand by the
concerned authorities. On verification of the ATRs it was evident that some
complaints were not even properly verified on the field by the concerned
authority.

VI. URGENT ACTION REQUIRED FROM THE DISTRICT

ADMINISTRATION

1. Issue circular to the blocks to open new works in the panchayats.

2. Issue circulars to immediately conduct drives for opening accounts, issuing

new Job Cards and Passbooks and collecting work applications.

3. Swift action on due payments. Immediate clearance of payment back log in all
NREGA works.

4. Defaulting authorities to be regularly and effectively penalised. Please take

strict and immediate action on authorities who are found to be unable to perform
assigned task in prescribed timeframe in accordance with Section 25 of the
NREGA. (See last paragraph of Section III above)

NREGA Sahayta Kendra, Chattarpur1

1
This Interim Report has been prepared by Navjyoti Jandu and Usman Javed (NREGA Team Members,
Chattarpur 2009) under the guidance of Prof. Jean Dreźe and Dr. Reetika Khera.