NREGS Social Audit Day III
Pradhans tried to disrupt the citizen's social audit
To read the related posting in Hindi language, please click here
Gram Pradhans, the elected representatives at the village level, attempted to disrupt the ongoing social audit in Unnao. This social audit is being carried out by the citizens on the development work done under t
he National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
The Miyaganj block development office had earlier provided documents related to NREGS after one and a half years struggle at UP State Information Commission under Right to Information Act. These documents are being verified by the citizens themselves in the ongoing social audit.
The Gram Pradhans had spread the rumour that high court has granted a stay-order against the social audit. In many Gram Panchayats including Bhadua, Barha Kala, Kulha Ataura and Korari khurd, the social audit work remained suspended for few hours owing to the rumour. However when people demanded a copy of the High Court stay-order, the Gram Pradhans couldn't produce any copy. The people thereby decided that unless they get to see a copy of the stay order, they will not stop the social audit.
The resistance put up by the Gram Pradhans in some gram panchayats on the pretext of a rumour to disrupt the social audit, slowly started giving way to the mounting public pressure to continue the social audit. Only in one gram panchayat, Korari Khurd, the social audit remained paralyzed for the entire day because of never-ending arguments between the gram pradhan and the social audit team. Interestingly enough, the people we could speak to in this village, reported that their 'job cards' are with the Gram Pradhan. Job cards under NREGS should be with the worker at all times.
Gram pradhans are r
esistant to the social audit because it will potentially expose the gross-irregularities, corruption and in-discrepancies in the work done under NREGS. NREGS is playing a phenomenal role in empowering the weakest sections of the society to hold the 'mighty' accountable. Many gram pradhans have accepted verbally that irregularities have taken place in the NREGS work. It is only a matter of few days now when findings of the social audit will expose them all in a public hearing on 28 May.
It is evident from the stiff resistance of Gram pradhans to the citizen's social audit that despite of the legal provisions under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Right to Information Act (RTI) that empowers a common citizen with the right to hold those-in-power accountable and increases transparency, the ruling class is trying unsuccessfully to derail the process because of its vested interest.
The social audit team met 108 people in Gram Panchayat Kulha Ataura who wanted to get work under NREGS but their job cards were not made. Annat Ram (son of Bhola) said that he had submitted his photograph 3 times for the job card in past two years and the job card was finally delivered to him this morning. Upon further investigation, the social audit team discovered that just few hours earlier that morning, most of the job cards were distributed in this village. These job cards already show an entry for 10 days work to dig a water body 'Chaptenwa Talaab' further deep. Ram Baran (son of Madhav) said that although he didn't get a single day of work, still his job card shows 24 days of work. Muster Roll obtained through RTI application, didn't show his name even.
The job card of Bhaiya Lal (son of Ram Prasad) shows 68 days of work although in reality he got work only for 4 days. About 65 people in this gram panchayat are below the poverty line (BPL), possessing a BPL ration card to get food grains and sugar from the public distribution system (PDS). But in the last 5 years, none of these 65 people got even a single grain fr
om PDS. Antyodaya ration cards do show some distribution but in reality it hasn't taken place.
Despite of the 'High Court stay order' rumour and stiff resistance put up by the Gram Pradhans and other vested interests, it gives me hope that the steely resolve of the people to conduct the social audit related to their own development and welfare, could prevail. The social audit, as expected, is exposing gross-irregularities.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
[Author is a noted social activist, recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and heads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in India]
Published in
Assam Times, Assam, India
News Blaze, USA
Media for Freedom, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Thursday, May 22, 2008
NREGS Social Audit Day III: Pradhans tried to disrupt the citizen's social audit
NREGS Social Audit Day III: Pradhans tried to disrupt the citizen's social audit
NREGS Social Audit Day III
Pradhans tried to disrupt the citizen's social audit
To read the related posting in Hindi language, please click here
Gram Pradhans, the elected representatives at the village level, attempted to disrupt the ongoing social audit in Unnao. This social audit is being carried out by the citizens on the development work done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
The Miyaganj block development office had earlier provided documents related to NREGS after one and a half years struggle at UP State Information Commission under Right to Information Act. These documents are being verified by the citizens themselves in the ongoing social audit.
The Gram Pradhans had spread the rumour that high court has granted a stay-order against the social audit. In many Gram Panchayats including Bhadua, Barha Kala, Kulha Ataura and Korari khurd, the social audit work remained suspended for few hours owing to the rumour. However when people demanded a copy of the High Court stay-order, the Gram Pradhans couldn't produce any copy. The people thereby decided that unless they get to see a copy of the stay order, they will not stop the social audit.
The resistance put up by the Gram Pradhans in some gram panchayats on the pretext of a rumour to disrupt the social audit, slowly started giving way to the mounting public pressure to continue the social audit. Only in one gram panchayat, Korari Khurd, the social audit remained paralyzed for the entire day because of never-ending arguments between the gram pradhan and the social audit team. Interestingly enough, the people we could speak to in this village, reported that their 'job cards' are with the Gram Pradhan. Job cards under NREGS should be with the worker at all times.
Gram pradhans are resistant to the social audit because it will potentially expose the gross-irregularities, corruption and in-discrepancies in the work done under NREGS. NREGS is playing a phenomenal role in empowering the weakest sections of the society to hold the 'mighty' accountable. Many gram pradhans have accepted verbally that irregularities have taken place in the NREGS work. It is only a matter of few days now when findings of the social audit will expose them all in a public hearing on 28 May.
It is evident from the stiff resistance of Gram pradhans to the citizen's social audit that despite of the legal provisions under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Right to Information Act (RTI) that empowers a common citizen with the right to hold those-in-power accountable and increases transparency, the ruling class is trying unsuccessfully to derail the process because of its vested interest.
The social audit team met 108 people in Gram Panchayat Kulha Ataura who wanted to get work under NREGS but their job cards were not made. Annat Ram (son of Bhola) said that he had submitted his photograph 3 times for the job card in past two years and the job card was finally delivered to him this morning. Upon further investigation, the social audit team discovered that just few hours earlier that morning, most of the job cards were distributed in this village. These job cards already show an entry for 10 days work to dig a water body 'Chaptenwa Talaab' further deep. Ram Baran (son of Madhav) said that although he didn't get a single day of work, still his job card shows 24 days of work. Muster Roll obtained through RTI application, didn't show his name even.
The job card of Bhaiya Lal (son of Ram Prasad) shows 68 days of work although in reality he got work only for 4 days. About 65 people in this gram panchayat are below the poverty line (BPL), possessing a BPL ration card to get food grains and sugar from the public distribution system (PDS). But in the last 5 years, none of these 65 people got even a single grain from PDS. Antyodaya ration cards do show some distribution but in reality it hasn't taken place.
Despite of the 'High Court stay order' rumour and stiff resistance put up by the Gram Pradhans and other vested interests, it gives me hope that the steely resolve of the people to conduct the social audit related to their own development and welfare, could prevail. The social audit, as expected, is exposing gross-irregularities.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
[Author is a noted social activist, recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and heads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in India]
Published in
Assam Times, Assam, India
News Blaze, USA
Media for Freedom, Nepal
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
TambakooKills News Bulletin: 23 May 2008: Issue 384
TambakooKills News Bulletin
Friday, 23 May 2008
Issue 384
Latest Warne scandal: spin king caught smoking… again
News Live, Australia: 22 May 2008
Excerpt
Indian Premier League superstar Shane Warne has been caught by The Hindustan Times smoking a cigarette in the smoke-free Eden Gardens stadium. Warne grabbed similar headlines years ago when he was snapped by a schoolboy smoking a cigarette after signing a deal with an anti-smoking lobby worth a cool $200,000.
To read the complete news, click here
----------------------------------------
Bidi habit poses hidden health risk
The National, United Arab Emirates: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
The first worldwide study to compile existing information about bidi consumption and manufacture - and the health effects of smoking and producing bidis - was published last week.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Poison Moonshine Kills 110 of India’s Poor
Somini Sengupta, New York Times, USA: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
R. Srikumar, the state police chief, said the liquor was spiked with camphor and tobacco and was suspected to have contained toxic methyl alcohol.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Mizoram is India's cancer capital
The Indic Post, Mizoram, India: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
Reports suggest the Mizoram has the highest incidence in the world of four types of cancer; caused mainly by overwhelming consumption of tobacco.
To read the complete news, click here
----------------------------------------
Centre warns NE [North East] on Bidi Smoking
Assam Tribune, Assam, India: 20 May 2008
Excerpt
A report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a strong note of warning to the North East which has a high prevalence of bidi smoking amongst the younger generation compared to rest of India.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Ramadoss should stop Govt staff from using tobacco: Amitabh Bachchan
Asia Times, Hong Kong/ Thailand: 22 May 2008
Excerpt
Amitabh Bachchan's blog had earlier poked at another prominent target - Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, whose pet peeve, that India's national health is being grievously undermined by actors drinking and smoking on screen, is driving the film community into a frenzy. Bachchan urged Ramadoss to first wean government employees off tobacco.
To read the complete news, click here
*****************************************
To download or read Hindi and English language news bulletin/ articles on tobacco control, click here or go to:
http://TambakooKills.blogspot.com
To receive email updates on tobacco control in Hindi and English languages, send an email to:
TambakooKills-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
----------------------------
Jointly brought to you by the Tambakoo-Kills youth team supported by:
Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Abhinav Bharat Foundation (ABF), Asha Parivar, Citizen News Service (CNS) and Tobacco Cessation Clinic of CSM Medical University
Email: Tambakoo.Kills@gmail.com
-----------------------------
TambakooKills News Bulletin: 23 May 2008: Issue 384
TambakooKills News Bulletin
Friday, 23 May 2008
Issue 384
Latest Warne scandal: spin king caught smoking… again
News Live, Australia: 22 May 2008
Excerpt
Indian Premier League superstar Shane Warne has been caught by The Hindustan Times smoking a cigarette in the smoke-free Eden Gardens stadium. Warne grabbed similar headlines years ago when he was snapped by a schoolboy smoking a cigarette after signing a deal with an anti-smoking lobby worth a cool $200,000.
To read the complete news, click here
----------------------------------------
Bidi habit poses hidden health risk
The National, United Arab Emirates: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
The first worldwide study to compile existing information about bidi consumption and manufacture - and the health effects of smoking and producing bidis - was published last week.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Poison Moonshine Kills 110 of India’s Poor
Somini Sengupta, New York Times, USA: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
R. Srikumar, the state police chief, said the liquor was spiked with camphor and tobacco and was suspected to have contained toxic methyl alcohol.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Mizoram is India's cancer capital
The Indic Post, Mizoram, India: 21 May 2008
Excerpt
Reports suggest the Mizoram has the highest incidence in the world of four types of cancer; caused mainly by overwhelming consumption of tobacco.
To read the complete news, click here
----------------------------------------
Centre warns NE [North East] on Bidi Smoking
Assam Tribune, Assam, India: 20 May 2008
Excerpt
A report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a strong note of warning to the North East which has a high prevalence of bidi smoking amongst the younger generation compared to rest of India.
To read the complete news, click here
---------------------------------------
Ramadoss should stop Govt staff from using tobacco: Amitabh Bachchan
Asia Times, Hong Kong/ Thailand: 22 May 2008
Excerpt
Amitabh Bachchan's blog had earlier poked at another prominent target - Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, whose pet peeve, that India's national health is being grievously undermined by actors drinking and smoking on screen, is driving the film community into a frenzy. Bachchan urged Ramadoss to first wean government employees off tobacco.
To read the complete news, click here
*****************************************
To download or read Hindi and English language news bulletin/ articles on tobacco control, click here or go to:
http://TambakooKills.blogspot.com
To receive email updates on tobacco control in Hindi and English languages, send an email to:
TambakooKills-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
----------------------------
Jointly brought to you by the Tambakoo-Kills youth team supported by:
Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Abhinav Bharat Foundation (ABF), Asha Parivar, Citizen News Service (CNS) and Tobacco Cessation Clinic of CSM Medical University
Email: Tambakoo.Kills@gmail.com
-----------------------------
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
NREGS Social Audit (Day II): 'where trees are planted before they are purchased'
NREGS Social Audit (Day II)
'where trees are planted before they are purchased'
Dr Sandeep Pandey
On the second day of training of about hundred citizens who are preparing to go into the villages
of Miyaganj Block of Unnao District to conduct social audit of the NREGS, the DM Rajshekhar addressed a gathering of citizens of this Block. He said that he would not tolerate any discrepancy in muster rolls as well as measurement books.A number of officials and people responsible for implementation of this scheme believe that only one of the two documents can be prepared honestly, the other will have to be manipulated to fit the first. He said that NREGS had tremendous potential to transform the rural landscape and standard of living of rural poor but equally there was enough possibility for large scale embezzlement of funds. He said that if there was any embezzlement of funds found in the implementation of NREGS and people decided to go to the court even a DM might have to go to jail.
Even before the teams go out into the various village panchayats discrepancies are being discovered in the records obtained through RTI. For example, in village panchayat Nurullapur in a work 3000 bricks have been shown to have been purchased for Rs. 74,481. This implies that a brick cost about Rs. 21.
The people are already asking what was the brick made of? The Pradhan of this panchayat Samim has shamelessly put his signature at all places on the muster rolls – from taking attendance of the labourers to verifying the work. Usually different people are supposed to perform different functions. But he seems to be the only authority in his village panchayat. He doesn’t see the role of any panchayat level employee or a supervisor for the work.
The other instance of corruption discovered is purchase of saplings at the rate of Rs. 4 per plant which can be bought for fifty paise to Re. 1 in the market. A purchase of Rs. 20,000 has been shown in each panchayat from a single supplier – ‘Messers Paurush Priya Traders.’ Muster rolls have been filled for 7-10 days for plantation of these saplings and for 10-15 days for watering of these plants. In reality not a single sapling has been planted.
This implies straightaway embezzlement of over Rs. 13 lakhs. Even more interestingly, in village panchayat Barha Kalan the saplings have been shown to have been planted between 1st and 12th October, 2006 whereas the purchase of saplings has been shown on 29th November, 2006.
However, the purpose of social audit in not simply to expose such corruption and discrepancy. Social audit should be institutionalized as a process within the Gram Sabhas wherein the citizens should conduct continuous audit of their panchayat records. They should make their Pradhans and government employees appointed to serve them accountable to themselves.
They should not just be passive observers to the rampant corruption around them but play an active role in checking that corruption. Except for this there doesn’t seem to be any way that the lot of rural poor can improve.
The time has come when the beneficiaries of the government schemes must assert their rights. RTI Act and NREGA, both implemented in 2005, are citizen-empowering laws. The two laws are playing a vital role in changing the equation between the ruling elite and the common people. It is up to the people to use the two laws creatively to break the hold of corrupt officials and mafia on their resources.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
[Author is a noted social activist, recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and heads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in India]
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Assam Times, Assam, India
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
News Blaze, USA
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
NREGS Social Audit (Day II): 'where trees are planted before they are purchased'
NREGS Social Audit (Day II)
'where trees are planted before they are purchased'
Dr Sandeep Pandey
On the second day of training of about hundred citizens who are preparing to go into the villages
of Miyaganj Block of Unnao District to conduct social audit of the NREGS, the DM Rajshekhar addressed a gathering of citizens of this Block. He said that he would not tolerate any discrepancy in muster rolls as well as measurement books.A number of officials and people responsible for implementation of this scheme believe that only one of the two documents can be prepared honestly, the other will have to be manipulated to fit the first. He said that NREGS had tremendous potential to transform the rural landscape and standard of living of rural poor but equally there was enough possibility for large scale embezzlement of funds. He said that if there was any embezzlement of funds found in the implementation of NREGS and people decided to go to the court even a DM might have to go to jail.
Even before the teams go out into the various village panchayats discrepancies are being discovered in the records obtained through RTI. For example, in village panchayat Nurullapur in a work 3000 bricks have been shown to have been purchased for Rs. 74,481. This implies that a brick cost about Rs. 21.
The people are already asking what was the brick made of? The Pradhan of this panchayat Samim has shamelessly put his signature at all places on the muster rolls – from taking attendance of the labourers to verifying the work. Usually different people are supposed to perform different functions. But he seems to be the only authority in his village panchayat. He doesn’t see the role of any panchayat level employee or a supervisor for the work.
The other instance of corruption discovered is purchase of saplings at the rate of Rs. 4 per plant which can be bought for fifty paise to Re. 1 in the market. A purchase of Rs. 20,000 has been shown in each panchayat from a single supplier – ‘Messers Paurush Priya Traders.’ Muster rolls have been filled for 7-10 days for plantation of these saplings and for 10-15 days for watering of these plants. In reality not a single sapling has been planted.
This implies straightaway embezzlement of over Rs. 13 lakhs. Even more interestingly, in village panchayat Barha Kalan the saplings have been shown to have been planted between 1st and 12th October, 2006 whereas the purchase of saplings has been shown on 29th November, 2006.
However, the purpose of social audit in not simply to expose such corruption and discrepancy. Social audit should be institutionalized as a process within the Gram Sabhas wherein the citizens should conduct continuous audit of their panchayat records. They should make their Pradhans and government employees appointed to serve them accountable to themselves.
They should not just be passive observers to the rampant corruption around them but play an active role in checking that corruption. Except for this there doesn’t seem to be any way that the lot of rural poor can improve.
The time has come when the beneficiaries of the government schemes must assert their rights. RTI Act and NREGA, both implemented in 2005, are citizen-empowering laws. The two laws are playing a vital role in changing the equation between the ruling elite and the common people. It is up to the people to use the two laws creatively to break the hold of corrupt officials and mafia on their resources.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
[Author is a noted social activist, recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and heads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in India]
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Assam Times, Assam, India
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
News Blaze, USA
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
DAY 1: Social audit of NREGS begins
DAY 1: Social audit of NREGS begins
Dr Sandeep Pandey
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The preparations are underway to conduct the social audit of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Miyaganj development block of Unnao district in UP.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 bestows the rights to citizens to conduct a social audit of the work carried out under the act.
Before this Act came into place, the citizens had the only choice to lodge a complaint with concerned officer reporting the drawbacks or shortcomings. It was completely on the discretion of the officer whether to take that complaint forward and act upon it, or drop it. The citizens were mute spectators and the right to act upon a complaint or turn a blind’s eye to it was the privileges of the officers.
From this perspective, the right of an ordinary citizen to conduct a social audit on development work under the NREGA is a revolutionary step forward in Indian democracy.
It is only a matter of time that the people of this country will begin demanding similar rights to conduct a social audit on other development schemes of the government.
The way governance functions in
On 4 December 2006, when a native of Unnao district Yashwant Rao had demanded information from the Block Development Officer of Miyaganj using Right-to-Information Act (RTI) regarding the work carried out under the NREGS, he was denied. When Yashwant lodged a complaint about this denial of information at the UP State Information Commission, he then received a letter from the block development office informing him to deposit Rs 1,58,400 and take the documents he wanted copies of. Under the RTI Act, if the information is provided within one month, then the receiver needs to pay Rs 2 per page. But the block development office had stamped an arbitrary rate of Rs 2,400 per gram panchayat to provide information for the NREGS work carried out in 66 gram panchayats. After more than a year and 10 hearings at UP State Information Commission, the block development office was finally ordered to provide all the information free-of-cost to the applicant (Yashwant).
In April 2008, documents related to NREGS work in 65 out of 66 gram panchayats were finally provided to Yashwant.
Although under NREGA the information related to the work carried out under NREGS should be provided within 7 days on actual costs, but still it is a triumph of people’s democratic rights even if they have received it after one and a half years! The officials tried their level best to delay or derail the process at every step, but eventually they had to adhere to the legal provisions under the NREGA and RTI Act, which strengthens democracy at the grassroots tremendously.
Now the local people of Miyaganj block and other citizens with support from social organizations are conducting a social audit for the next 6 days in each of the gram panchayats to verify the information related to development work which is provided by the authorities. This kind of democratic and empowering activity in this region is not heard of so far. In this social audit, citizens from other districts of UP like
Currently about 100 citizens who will be leading the social audit are being briefed and oriented at the Block Development office of Miyaganj block in Unnao. They are studying the muster rolls provided by the government and also planning on ways to sensitize people they meet to be more aware and proactive in protecting their own rights.
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Note: This is a translation. Dr Pandey originally wrote in Hindi , which is available online here
Published in:
Assam Times, Assam, India
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
News Blaze, USA
Media for Freedom, Nepal
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