Download - Atmashakti Trust - Progress Report Dec 2009

8/3/2019 Atmashakti Trust - Progress Report Dec 2009

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ORISSA

Work continued at an accelerated pace during

Dec/Jan and the quantitative achievements

are summarised below:

Job cards: Over 95% of the 165,000 families

we have covered now have job cards. This

means our combined effort has resulted in

over 50,000job cards reaching the people in

the last three months.

Bank/Postal accounts: Starting from an

extremely low 25% who had accounts we are

now at a much better level of around 75%

which means that around 80,000 new

accounts have been opened. In most areas we

have been assured that if a job card holderapplies for work, the panchayat/block will take care of the account opening process.

Committee formation at the village level: We are covering over 3500 villages/hamlets and we

have selected volunteers and formed committees in over 90% of these.

Job demands: Following the mass applications in Dec 2009, another 20,000 people applied for

work in Jan 2010 bringing the total number to around 65,000. We do not have an accurate system

of tracking the numbers who have actually got work, but raw data suggests that around 60% have

started work.

During these two months we made two field visits, reviewing progress and strategising at the

individual team level. In addition review meetings were held with all the team leaders/fieldcoordinators in Bhubaneshwar. We also had continued interaction with government officials at the

block/panchayat level as also in the state secretariat.

Strategy

a. The common strategy that has evolved is to:

b. Try and ensure that all those who have applied for work get employment.

c. To expedite payments of wages.

d. To create additional awareness of peoples’ entitlement through a wall painting campaign.

e. To document the process with case studies.

f. To start village level training as also orientation for the volunteers.

g. To conduct a three day training for the jansathis in March.

Eager to Join the process.



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OTHER ACTIVITIES

The central government announced that they would provide Rs 100/- as the wage for NREGA work

and that states where the minimum wage is below would now have to apply at the enhanced rate.

In December we asked the state government what action had been taken but have not received any

response to date. (A classic example of bureaucratic delay costing the people 10/- per day in lost wages. Even in our restricted area of work this translates to something like Rs 6 lakh a day). The

groups have also started a post card campaign demanding the increase from Rs 90/- to Rs 100/-

per day.

We also wrote to the state government requesting them to take the 19 blocks we are working in as

‘test cases’ and deploy additional manpower to take care of obvious gaps. We also asked them to

experiment with the alternate payment option we have suggested. (Details in the Sept newsletter).

Funds continue to be a problem and unfortunately, the situation doesn’t seem to be getting any

better. Once again thanks for your invaluable support and now that we’ve got some numbers to

display please try and garner support from your friends and associates.

We look forward to your continuing support, as also spreading the word and assisting us in

garnering additional resources for this venture. Donation details are outlined at the end of the

report.

With best wishes,

M.M. (Koko) Singh

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS

You are requested to support one or more such workers each of whom will cost only

Rs.4,000/- per month.

We will provide regular updates that fully account for your donations and detail the work

that has been executed through various means such as the website, emails, social networks

etc.

Cheques can be made out to “Atmashakti Trust”

Please pass this on to friends who may be interested in supporting us.

Donations enjoy exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act

CONTACT DETAILS

Koko Singh

The Atmashakti Trust

101A Friends Colony

New Delhi – 110065

Ph.: +91-11-41627576

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.atmashaktitrust.com

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.atmashaktitrust.com/



