The Hindu : National : `Expedite implementation of Employment Guarantee Act'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 21, 2004

National

National

`Expedite implementation of Employment Guarantee Act'

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 20. The Congress-led Government at the Centre has come under criticism from the Left parties for its alleged "lack of political will'' in implementing the Employment Guarantee Act. The criticism was further fuelled by reports that the Union Finance Ministry had described the scheme as "not feasible'' due to a huge amount of money required for its implementation and the talk of having to make a choice between the employment guarantee programme for the unorganised sector and the Sixth Pay Commission for the Government employees.

Speaking at a convention on "Early and Effective Implementation of Employment Guarantee Act'' organised by Sahmat here on Tuesday, the senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, said the Employment Guarantee Act would be implemented in 150 backward districts from April 2005. The draft Bill would be passed in the winter session after the Planning Commission discussed it with the States. Mr. Ramesh, however, pointed out that since it involved a huge expenditure, the Government would have to prioritise its programmes.

`Lack of political will'

"The question involved in the implementation is not dearth of money but a lack of political will,'' said D. Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI). We want the Government to be more realistic and get the draft Bill passed in the winter session of Parliament failing which the matter would be taken to streets."

The participants also decided to launch a massive campaign to push for the implementation of the Act on December 10 that is observed as Human Rights Day.

Describing the Employment Guarantee Act as "non-negotiable," Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and member of the National Advisory Council, said it was not only an assurance by the Government but also a legal commitment. He said it was wrong to ask to choose between the Sixth Pay Commission because Rs. 40,000 crores to 50,000 crores estimated to be required for the scheme could easily be raised by collecting the dues from Income Tax defaulters alone where about Rs 1.32 lakh crores was locked up.

Aruna Roy, another member of NAC, said the Act was not only a guarantee of work but also a voice against privatisation, drought and poverty. It would help check migration that affected women and children the worst.

Quota for women

Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan drew the attention of the audience to the fact that employment generation schemes could drain the natural resources available, particularly in the rural areas. She suggested a special provision for reserving 50 per cent of the jobs for women since the present draft totally appeared to leave out women.

Jean Dreze, NAC member, said it was a seriously thought draft that would help substantially help eliminate rural poverty. Even 50 days of employment with minimum wages could have a dramatic effect in checking migration.

Pointing out that the estimated amount to be spent on the scheme would be just about 0.7 to 1.5 per cent of the GDP, economist Jayati Ghosh said it would not be an impossible amount to raise.

Admitting that the programme would not solve all the problems, the All-India Democratic Women's Association general secretary said that nevertheless it would be a big step towards providing employment. She also suggested re-defining "manual work" and "households" to accommodate more women in the employment guarantee programme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National