Central schemes poorly implemented in three districts,finds Norway team

According to a fact finding report by Food First Information Action Network (FIAN),Norway,the families are forced to use saline water,not just for daily activities,but also for crops.

An international organisation working on the issue of right to food,water and work across the globe,FIAN has chosen three districts based on district progress reports (DPRs) of Central schemes like rural drinking water supply,NREGS and Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension. The districts were Rae Bareli,Saharanpur and Barabanki.

Over the last month,FIAN has visited all three districts to study the impact of the Central schemes.

“In Ganeshpur Tadepur,the 90-odd families are forced to use salty water from two working handpumps,” said FIAN representative Mari Gakkestad. “Over the last two years,the village has sent umpteen complaints and requests for more handpumps,but to no avail.”

Every day,the villagers have to travel to nearby villages to get drinking water,she said. In the primary school of the village,midday meal is cooked after bringing water from the neighbouring village. Teachers and students carry water bottles. And at times,the villagers are forced to buy water from other villages.

Gakkestad said: “We have also checked with the health of the residents and found that jaundice,diarrhoea and stomach worms are common problems. The children have weak teeth too.”

In Barabanki,the team visited Tiwaripur village in Bhitaria block. There,they found that of the 40 elderly people in the village,only two were getting old age pension.

They had received Rs 900 a year ago and since then,they have not received any more money. The women over 60 did not have their names in the pensioners’ list,though they did feature in the BPL list.

In Damankor village of Saharanpur,the team surveyed the right to work for women under the NREGS. They found that the women either did not have job cards or work.

“The people were unaware about what tasks can be done by the women under this scheme,” she said.

Sharing the FIAN’s primary report with the media on Tuesday,Gakkestad said: “It is ironic that while there is no dearth of money for these Central schemes which promise basic rights like work and water,nothing is done. People who need the maximum benefits from these schemes are the ones who are left out.” Copies of the report have been presented to Central departments like rural development and labour. The FIAN representatives will also meet the respective Union ministers.