This demand is one of the important points in the `Lucknow declaration’ adopted unanimously at the sammelan.

The sammelan was held at the conclusion of the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra which went through 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh notified under the NREGA. Over 300 civil society organisations (CSOs) including PACS Programme partners in 13 districts participated in the yatra and mobilised the involvement of thousands of people. (See earlier report Massive yatra in UP to demand right to work ).

The yatra organised hundreds of meetings, public hearings, social audits in these 22 districts, to deliberate on issues related to the implementation of the employment guarantee scheme.

The Lucknow declaration stressed the need to “protect, conserve and enlarge the scope of the employment guarantees” provided through the NREGA. It stated that concerted action by society, as a whole -especially the political leadership, officials and grassroots activists - is necessary for the success of the NREGA and for the overall development of the poorest of the poor in India.

The declaration deplored the fact that vested interests, a corrupt bureaucracy and narrow agendas of many political parties have frustrated the speedy implementation of the NREGA in many parts of the country.

The declaration specifically urged the government of Uttar Pradesh to:

• Appoint an Employment Guarantee Commissioner for ensuring that all activities required to fulfill the objectives of the NREGA are carried out
• Set up a State Employment Guarantee Council under section 12 of NREGA
• Give priority to training of key agencies on provisions of the NREGA and its operational guidelines
• Form a high-powered employment cell with adequate representation from CSOs, dalits, adivasis and physically challenged people
• Appoint grievance redressal authorities at the block, district and state level
• Set up a system of ombudsmen at district level and impose specified penalties on officers responsible for major violations of the NREGA (for example, refusal to accept an application for a job card or for employment)

The declaration demanded that perspective plans and relevant government orders should be made public. Job cards should be immediately provided to all adults, especially dalits, adivasis, women and physically challenged people. Work should be started as early as possible and timely and fair payment should be ensured. Payment should be made on the basis of daily wages not as per measurement. Transparency should be maintained in sanctioning and implementing work and creation of productive assets of use to the dalit and adivasi communities should be given priority. All records should be available to people as per guidelines and gram panchayat must organise social audits with the support of people.

To read the full text of the Lucknow declaration in PDF format, click here .