Communist Party of India (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said that most of the women who she interacted with at Ayyaneri village in Kuruvikulam block in Kovilpatti claimed that not even a single day’s work was allotted to them under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the last six months.
Ms. Karat told media persons in Kovilpatti on Monday that there had been no rain in that region for the past three or four years and with work not forthcoming many villagers had migrated. It was unfortunate that the Narendra Modi government had cut down its allocation for the job scheme, she said.
“The women want a minimum of 200 days of work in a year under the job scheme and have urged me to voice their demand in Parliament,” she said. Ms. Karat said that drinking water and sheds were not provided to the workers who toiled under scorching sun at Ayyaneri. Under law, water, shed and crèche should be provided for them. It was pathetic to see the hardship faced by five children on a hot day at a site. The Block Development Officer was apprised of this and asked to inspect the site and provide necessary amenities to the workers. However, implementation of the scheme in other States was much worse, she said.
Ms. Karat called upon all Members of Parliament and Ministers to visit work sites and meet workers. A national monitoring force should be set up to take stock of work sites through a study. Ministers should take a tour of work sites instead of touring around the world, Ms. Karat added.
K.S. Arjunan, district secretary of the party, K. Srinivasan, Kovilpatti town secretary, and others were present.
