CPIM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE PICKETING

Converging schemes under NREGA will curtail employment: CPIM

Government’s move to converge several schemes under different ministries into the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would curtail employment opportunities in rural areas, the CPI(M) claimed today.

“It (convergence) can help state governments in increasing workdays but if you look at it from the micro point of view, it may curtail employment opportunities that a family has been availing so far,” party’s politburo member Brinda Karat told PTI.

Citing an example, she said that if three adults of a family were able to get work under three different government schemes, only one of them would be able to get work after the convergence with NREGA which provides for 100-day employment to only one member of a family.

The Centre has decided to converge rural development schemes as well as various schemes of the ministries of agriculture, water resources and environment and forests with that of NREGA to achieve a synergy among these programmes.

The rural development ministry has even issued several guidelines and advisories to the state governments in this regard.

Ms. Karat suggested that if there has to be convergence of various schemes with that of NREGA, the government should increase the number of workdays guaranteed under the rural employment guarantee Act. The CPI(M) also observed that government was not able to provide 100 days work “except in small percentage of cases”.

“Why is it so that you cannot provide 100 days work? One of the crucial reasons behind it is the schematic approach in the Act and in the minds of people sitting in Delhi as to the works which are permissible,” Ms. Karat said. She claimed NREGA, at present, “basically means digging tanks or other water works”.

“In our country, there are so many regional differences.... Some states which are dry and arid. They would benefit if a programme is centralised on water like Rajasthan. But this can not be applicable for each state,” she said.

The CPI(M) leader suggested that to ensure increase in number of workdays, government should allow inclusion of more works under the Act.

She lamented that her party had suggested that the Centre allow employment of tea garden workers under NREGA in West Bengal but it was not accepted.

“There are tea gardens, closed tea gardens, bushes have to be protected. So we said why can’t the workers of the closed tea gardens get work under NREGA? So this was a very sensible proposal that was not accepted by the Central government,” she said.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Over 900 Vivasayigal Sangam members arrested

Raising voice: Members of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam staging a protest in front of the taluk office in Dharmapuri as part of their Statewide agitation on Monday. —

KRISHNAGIRI/DHARMAPURI: As many as 911 members, including 295 women, of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam were arrested in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts on Monday when they resorted to picketing in front of the taluk offices demanding free house site pattas and two-acre land to the landless farmers as part of its Statewide agitation.

In Krishnagiri district, the agitation was staged at Krishnagiri, Uthangarai, Shoolagiri, Pochampalli, Pochampalli and Denkanikottai. Over 486 members, including 86 women, were arrested.

K. Mohamed Ali, State Vice-President, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam led the agitation in front of the Hosur taluk office. A total of 139 people, including 72 women, were arrested. D. Godandaraman and V. Sedhumadhavan among others participated.

In Krishnagiri, X. Irudayaraj presided over the agitation.

A total of 29 persons were arrested, including five women. Those arrested included K. Periyasamy, R. Sankar, Sheik Hussein and G.K. Nanjundan.

In Denkanikottai, K.V. Munikrishnan, taluk president presided.

A total of 104 members, including 27 women, were arrested.

In Uthangarai, K. Selvarj, taluk secretary presided. Sixty-five members, including six women, were arrested. D. Ravindran, State committee member and V. Govindasamy, district vice-president, participated.

In Pochampalli, R.C. Madhalingam presided. Fifty-one members, including M. Dharman, President, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, were arrested.

In Shoolagiri, the agitation was held in front of the Revenue Inspector’s office. C. Venkatesappa, Union President, presided. 88 members, including one woman, were arrested.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) State treasurer P. Shanmugam led the agitation in front of the Uthangarai Tahsildar Office along with D. Raveendran, State committee member.

In Dharmapuri district, 425 members, including 165 women, were arrested for resorting to picketing the taluk offices.

In Dharmapuri town, P. Dillibabu, Harur MLA and State Committee Member of the Sangam presided over the agitation in front of the taluk office. 175 members, including 100 women, were arrested, which included K.N. Mallaiyan, district president.

Rally taken out

Before picketing the taluk office, they took out a rally from Sengodipuram.

During the talks, Ramadurai Murugan, Tahsildhar, is said to have given an assurance to issue free house site and land patta to Arunthadhiar community in Alamelu Chettiyur, A. Jettihalli and Poovalmaduvu before April 20.

In Harur, P. Murugan, district president of the Sangam, presided over the agitation. 130 members, including 30 women, were arrested.

The picketing agitation held before the Palacode taluk office was led by K. Kaliappan, district treasurer. 70 members, including 20 women, were arrested.

In Pennagaram, 50 members, including 15 women, were arrested

(courtesy The Hindu)