People's Democracy

AIAWU Lambasts Minister’s Statement on MGNREGA

THROUGH a statement issued from New Delhi on July 17, the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) has condemned the statement of Shri K S Rao, union minister for textiles, to the effect that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has contributed to laziness among the agricultural workers. The minister suggested that half of the money of MGNREGA must be spent on skill development schemes for the rural poor.

While in no way opposing skill development schemes, the AIAWU has opined that the minister’s statement amounted to a violation f the law. The union said the MGNREGA is not a mere scheme and that it did not reflect well on a central minister to give such a call. On the contrary, the minister must spend his time and effort to increase the days of work being given, ensure prompt payment of wages and give unemployment relief if 100 days work is not provided. So far, his government’s performance in implementing this law has been miserable and organisations like the AIAWU are determined to force an implementation of this important scheme for the rural poor by every means possible. Asserting that it has been successful in such efforts in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Tripura and parts of Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the AIAWU said it is determined to carry forward the struggle to get implemented the law which the central government has passed and is now breaking.

LEADER’S RELEASE

DEMANDED

Through another statement on the same day, the All India Agricultural Workers Union condemned the fraudulent imprisonment of its district president and a municipal counsellor of Kaithal, Haryana, Prem Kumar. Kumar was arrested on false charges under section 307 of Indian Penal Code and is in jail since May 19, 2013, when he was expressing solidarity with the cause of Maruti workers.

In Haryana, over 200 panchayats have come out demanding his immediate release but the Haryana government has persisted in its oppression of the Maruti workers and also of those who dare to support their just cause.

The AIAWU has demanded his immediate release, an end to the shameless oppression of Maruti workers and punitive action against the authorities who are responsible for this act.