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Row over dole in Latehar

NEW DELHI: Members of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan are launching a ‘dharna’ in Latehar, Jharkhand on Thursday to press for a series of demands before the first-ever Lok Adalat on NREGA, to be held there on Saturday.

One of the main issues before the Lok Adalat is the payment of unemployment allowance to residents of two Kope and Jerua gram panchayats of Manika block. Despite repeated assurances from the State government that the allowance would be paid, nothing was done until January-end. This prompted JHALSA (Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority) to step in.

On Wednesday, Rural Development Secretary Satpathy issued an order for payment of Rs. 1620 to 38 labourers in Kope and Rs. 1935 to 40 labourers in Jerua panchayats. The Manika Block Development Officer was fined Rs. 1000 under Section 25 of the NREGA.

Though this is a major victory for the labourers of Kope and Jerua, unemployment allowances are still due in three other villages in Manika block. Similar cases have also come to light from Balumath and Barwadih blocks.

Members of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan are critical of the manner in which the Lok Adalat is being conducted. Within a few days of the Lok Adalat being announced, more than 15,000 applications were submitted by local residents from Latehar district.

Most of the applicants are claiming the unemployment allowance on the grounds that they have job cards but have not been given any work. A false impression has deliberately been created that the allowance can be claimed even without applying for work – this is not the case.

Instead of enlightening and empowering rural residents of Latehar, the Lok Adalat is in danger of becoming another scam. The dharna is to demand that all the applications be treated as work applications and applicants be provided employment within 15 days.

The dharna is also to demand that the Lok Adalat be conducted through due process and lead to serious action.

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