Shivraj  Singh Chauhan : Release illegally detained  Adivasis now !!

 

JAGRUT ADIVAI DALIT SANGHATAN
BARWANI, MADHYA PADESH

Press note- 5.10.12


ADIVASI WOMEN WORKERS WIN : CARRY OUT A RALLY THROUGH BADWANI TOWN ON THE ISSUE OF DELAYED PAYEMNTS AND CORRUPTION UNDER MGNERGA AFTER BEING BLOCKED BY THE ADMNISTRATION FOR TWO DAYS.

Agitating Adivasi workers decide to give a chance to  Committee that will investigate and resolve the cases of delayed payments and address the rampant corruption under MGNREGA in Barwani District

Thousands of Adivasi women who refused to be cowed down by threats and hostility took out a rally after two days of blockading by the administration and threats by vested interests. The women marched to the Zilla Panchayat office through Barwani town and reiterated their demands in front the of the CEO, Zila Panchayat.  The Adivasi workers have been agitating against delayed payments and for checking the vast irregularities and corruption under NRGEGA. Many of the adivasi  workers have not  received payments for the past 6 months and many have not been paid for over a year which has created a deep survival crisis for the families.

The Adivasi workers declared that  since the Principal Secretary, Ms Aruna Sharma  has instituted a process for systemic  changes to check rampant corruption and  the payment of delayed wages, they will give this process a chance. They will  now return to their villages and facilitate and monitor the work of the committee.  But they also declared that if this committee too fails them and is not able to release their payments as well as to stem the rampant corruption and vast irregularities under MGNREGA, then they will be forced to agitate not just against the district administration but also the state government. It is to be noted that the committee has been instituted because of the continued efforts of the adivasi workers who have been agitating against delayed payments and corruption for a long time.

The women while marching through the streets of Badwani questioned why  the MLA, Shri Prem singh Patel is opposing their legal demands and also why some local traders have joined him in threatening adivasis .They also expressed solidarity with the people and workers of Badwani town saying that their issues are common,  They appealed to the public of Barwani town to join them in their struggle.

Meanwhile Narmada Bachao Andolan has issued a solidarity statement with JADS asking the vyapari sanghtan why they are protesting against the valid demands of the adivasi workers who are demanding their legal rights. They appealed to them to support the struggle of the adivasi workers in the interest of justice for the people instead of standing with corrupt vested interest and resorting to goondaism. That a corruption free Badwani would also be in the interest of the traders. Therefore they should extend support.