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Project Update: Mandra Lions Club

Project Update: Mandra Lions Club. Period: October 2010 to March 2011 Area of operation: Baghmundi, Jhalda I, Jhalda II blocks of Purulia district, West Bengal. No. of RTIs filed. Baghmundi - 4 Jhalda I - 3 Jhalda II - 8 Many of these applications are being actively followed up.

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Project Update: Mandra Lions Club

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  1. Project Update: Mandra Lions Club • Period: October 2010 to March 2011 • Area of operation: Baghmundi,Jhalda I,Jhalda II blocks of Purulia district, West Bengal

  2. No. of RTIs filed • Baghmundi - 4 • Jhalda I - 3 • Jhalda II - 8 • Many of these applications are being actively followed up

  3. - Information about Old age pension receivers, - How to get NREGS Plan and amount of sanction money, - For getting widow Pension list, and copy of BPL list., - Amount of allotted Ration goods opening days and time of ration shop., - For misappropriation of his Job card, If the PIO gives information after 30 days does the recipient have to pay for the information?, - Whether fees have to be paid for gross information?, Topics covered in telephone counselling

  4. - How the information of the total volume of free supply of medicine to the patients in the BPHC can be obtained?, - From where Gram Panchayet related information can be obtained? - Who are the PIO and appellate authority at the gram panchayet?, - Hand holding supports about the points for different applications.

  5. A few case studies...

  6. - Umesh Mahato and Paresh Mahato - Applied for job cards to Bagmundi Panchayat Office - job card denied - “has been issued earlier” - filed RTI application to the district NREGS Cell to know the following information: Fraud with Job card

  7. Who has received his (Umesh Chandra Mahato) job card and who has identified the person at the time of receiving of the card? In what identity the job supervisor has appointed him at work - name of the work spot and name of the job supervisors. Whether the wages of the works are paid through Post office A/C or by cash? If paid through A/c what the A/c No. is? Name and address of the person who has identified the person in time of opening A/c and withdrawal of wages from A/C? What kind of steps the Dist NREGS Cell can take against these corrupted persons? May he be eligible to get compensation for such deprivation? If so please inform how he can get it and his job card?

  8. 30th March 2011 - letter came to GP office for inquiry (after 2 years)‏ - from the Dist. NREGS Cell - News spread - More people want to pursue their own cases now!!

  9. - repairing work of “Shrabandi Majhi Para Gramin Rasta” under NREGS – supervisor used JCP Machine - villagers went to Panchayat member Kasinath Majhi - forced Panchayat member to inform the mater to BDO - Joint BDO came with Police and ceased the JCP Machine - supervisor is absconding with master role and documents - work has again started involving the labours. United protest against the use of machine in NREGS

  10. - Pardi village (Matha Panchayat) - Rs.35000.00 - villagers brought up the use of low quality materials - bridge broke down when a loaded van tried to cross - bamboo sticks and stone dust in lieu of rod, stone chips and cement Protest against use of bamboo in lieu of rod in construction of culvert

  11. - 25th March people filed RTI application - Panchayat denied, B.D.O. gave word to inquire but refused to receive the complain letter - Next stage : District Nodal Officer. continued..

  12. Jagun Bibi, Kanpa Panchayet - over aged - works in another house - cannot do hard construction/excavation work in NREGS - does stone sorting work and process clay - needs old age support - late payment of wages - invest part time for want of cash -work outside at even lower rate. Comments of the workers/labours who have worked under NREGS:

  13. Tutun Biswas, Mohonpur Panchayet - young people can do any work - old people should have easier work - not getting wages timely - Number of workers will be increased if proper step is taken

  14. Sabir Ali,Mamudpur Panchayet - excavation of tank - repairing of road - cleaning of park, painting, and plantation trees should be included - Drinking water security should also to be included

  15. ... Solutions revolve around building awareness amongst people, and organising These are the typical problems...

  16. - primarily started with RTI act - turned into need base solution of community - Specific Meetings on NREGS - procedure of RTI - NREGS job application - wage rate - compensation for non availability or late availability of job in NREGS work - Specific meetings on PDS - one to one counseling - visited NREGS work spot and interviewed the workers Community meetings

  17. - Meeting with School Students and guardians for awareness - Bareria Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra (Bagmundi Block)‏ - Jargo high school - Begunkodor high school School student awareness on NREGS rules:

  18. Block-wise community meetings • Jhalda II – 23 • Baghmundi - 36

  19. Blockwise villages covered • Jhalda II – 14 • Baghmundi - 25

  20. Issues discussed at the meetings • These meetings have been instrumental in mobilising people • Organised whenever there is a crisis • Main forums for people to get together as a community • Total around 1300 reached out

  21. Forums used for the meetings

  22. Irrigation department • Has its own NREGS jobs • People made them open a few lockgates • People themselves reconstructed canals • Filled up a pond for non-drinking purposes • Started filing RTIs

  23. Visited Ration shops in three blocks Found display boards Proper quantities given Proper price charged Cash memos given Monitoring PDS – What a success!

  24. Changes noticed • Promptness in providing information under RTI. • People themselves are approaching for information/ enquiry. • Compulsory spontaneous display boards • Spontaneous CBO/ Community protest against corruption • people are coming forward with the community issues also • Political power holders are afraid of RTI and providing information to people.

  25. But lot more needs to be done!!

  26. Compensation for lack of NREGS • 52 families • Cheated out of their jobs – colluding with the post office • Agitation • District nodal officer for NREGS gave assurance • DM is “looking into it” • Indefinite dharna next

  27. Main Focus for next year: 1.NREGS Job Generation • 3000 (wo)mandays of work per Gram Panchayat so far (estimate) • 2000 families per Gram Panchayat (estimate) • Lot more needs to be done • More survey work • Mobilisation • Building pressure on the administration • Work on compensation issues

  28. Main Focus for mext year: 2. Electoral Reforms • Building up to the Panchayat elections in 2 years • Seen as a means to sustain RTI activism • Conduct social audits, surveys • Build 'ideal manifestos' • Ensure free and fair elections • Get elected representatives follow-up on manifestos • Learn from RTI Manch / MKSS

  29. Newer directions: Forest • Forest Dept has its own NREGS program • Forest protection, regeneration, drinking water supplies • No one knows the amount of money involved • Initiated filing RTIs – 4 so far • Need to make sure the June-July forest regeneration work happens properly • RTIs • Follow-ups • Build pressure on administration

  30. Newer Direction: Health • Govt has health schemes • Janani Suraksha Yojana (maternal care) • Children's medicine supply • Money sanctioned for health support • Started filing RTIs: 4 so far • Next steps - • File RTIs • Mobilise people • Build pressure on health administration

  31. Total budget – Rs. 4,56,000 (~ $ 10,000)‏ Too much! (?)‏ Cut down to ~ $6000 ? Cut down on the salaries? And the lump sum? Budget

  32. Other geographical areas of work emerging.. • Sunderbans • Murshidabad • District level in Purulia

  33. I made this presentation, not anyone else!

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