India: Fighting Corruption + Rural Employment Guarantee Act

In 2004 the Indian parliament passed historic legislation, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which guarantees 100 days employment for rural households across the country. The legislation was the culmination of long process of mobilisations and lobbying by activists, unions and other concerned groups who have campaigned against the appalling conditions which exist in the countryside. Lack of employment and rights are key conditions facing the millions of agricultural workers in India and contribute to the enormous problems of inequality, internal migration and unregulated urbanisation which confronts India. Unions of agricultural workers welcomed the passing of the legislation since it not only guaranteed employment but it also included resources, in the form of wage subsidies, which would ensure agricultural workers are paid at least the minimum wage. However, the implementation of the NREGA, especially at the level of state and local government has left much to be desired as local landlords and corrupt officials have cheated the process. Ajay Kumar, General Secretary of the IUF-affiliated APVVU (an agricultural workers union in Andhra Pradesh) describes in the following interview the situation of the NREGA and the union's activities to see its proper implementation. www.asianfoodworker.net