When World Bank loans earmarked for local labor and livelihoods are being siphoned off by corrupt bureaucrats and contractors, for example with the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the people of Chittoragarh have decided that perhaps Gandhigiri may be the way to address their concerns.

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was launched in December 2000 with the aim of provinding all-weather access to unconnected habitations with a population of 500 and above by the year 2007. It is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme with support from World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

27-30% of the investment on this project was to be on labour. With investment levels of Rs. 2000- Rs.2500 crores per year, it was envisaged that the project would provide 6.5 crore human days and 0.56 skilled human days of work per anum. The technology used was to be labour - oriented, making maximum use of local labour and simple tractor-based equipment.

The work though is contracted out and is being done by labour replacing technology. Even the few labour employed are not paid the legal minimum wage, Rs.73. Inspite of the rural unemployment, crores of rupees in the name of labour never reach them.

The root of this problem lies in the system of contracting. Through the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the State recognizes that the contracting system works against the interests of the labour and subjects them to oppression. At the same time, the public sector has 50 to 60 per cent contract workers, and more and more work is being contracted out.

In the Badesar Tehsil of Chittorgarh, 12 roads are being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. In the villages of Manji ka Guda and Magarda alone, 102.85 lakh rupees are being spent on roads of length 5.7 km. Most of the work is being done by huge machines and very few labour. Even the people employed are being paid Rs.50 instead of the stipulated minimum wage Rs.73 . The workers have complained to the district collector and the labour inspector, but no investigation has been done yet. Mazdoor Kisaan Sangatan has launched a campaign in the villages of this Tehsil to fight for the workers rights.

The Sangatan will sit in a protest on Feb.5 at the Collecterate to assert its demands at the Public Works Department, which is the implementing agency for the project. Please join them in their struggle to stand up for their rights.

- Mazdoor Kisaan Sangatan, Village: Amarpura, Post: Dheerji Kheda, Teh : Badesar, Dist. Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, Ph: 9460057394, 01470-248586