to Village Jharua in Manika Block of Latehar - Ministry of Rural ...

Repression against NREGA activists in Latehar
On the sidelines of the recent Lok Adalat held in Latehar, aimed at securing justice for NREGA
workers, vested interests were vitiating the process. For instance, false rumours were spread to the effect
that any Job Card holder could apply for the unemployment allowance, even without applying for work
in the first place. Application forms to make this misguided claim were sold for up to Rs 10 per form in
shops across the district.
There have also been cases of harassment of NREGA activists. Bhukhan Singh and Niyamat Ansari,
residents of Jerua Gram Panchayat in Manika Block, were startled to read in the newspapers on 6
February that an FIR had been lodged against them and others in Manika Thana. This FIR alleges that
Bhukhan, Niyamat and others were guilty of violently driving away (and even attempting to murder)
Forest Department officials who had come to Jerua for some plantation work on 3 February. The
malicious nature of this FIR is evident from the fact that Bhukhan and Niyamat were not there on 3
February: they were in Latehar (and later Manika), as part of a team of volunteers who were helping
with preparations for the Lok Adalat.
Further details are given in the attached testimony from Sunil Kumar, another member of the team, who
was with Bhukan and Niyamat on 3 February. A formal complaint was submitted on 10 February to the
Director General of Police, who promised to ensure that no innocent person is victimized. People's
Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has agreed to fight the case if it comes to court.
We view this instance of harassment as a deliberate attempt on the part of vested interests to deprive
rural people from their rights under NREGA and we stand in solidarity with all those who are struggling
for people's right to work.
Jean Dreze
(Member, Central Employment
Guarantee Council)
11 February 2009
Gurjeet Singh
(Convener, NREGA Watch)