Swabhiman Samiti, in collaboration with ActionAid, organized a detailed NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) awareness camp in Siddharthnagar district to educate the local community about the provisions of the Act and its benefits. The program was inaugurated on 2007, when Siddharthnagar district was selected to be covered under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to provide employment opportunities to rural households.

  1. Inauguration of the Awareness Camp:

The awareness camp began with the lighting of the lamp by Mr. V.P. Pandey, the District Project Officer of Siddharthnagar. This moment marked the formal commencement of the camp, setting the tone for the importance of spreading knowledge about the NREGA and its provisions.

  1. Objective of the Program:

The main objective of this NREGA Awareness Program was to provide basic information about the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to the village heads (Pradhans), panchayat secretaries, and rural citizens who were not well-versed with the Act and its benefits. It was noted that both rural residents and local governance officials lacked the necessary knowledge about the law, its procedures, and how they could benefit from it.

  • Increase awareness about the registration process, work allocation, and scheme benefits under NREGA.
  • Encourage local officials and community members to participate in the planning and implementation of NREGA in their respective areas.
  1. Key Activities and Participants:

The program took place in the block development office hall of Uska Bazar, where several local government representatives, including village heads, panchayat members, and hundreds of rural participants, gathered.

3.1 Speeches by Key Guests:

  • Mr. V.P. Pandey, the District Project Officer, was the Chief Guest for the event. He provided a detailed explanation of the guidelines and circulars issued by the Uttar Pradesh Government regarding NREGA. He also discussed the preparation strategies of the administration for implementing the scheme effectively in the district.
  • Mr. K.D. Goswami, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Uska Bazar, emphasized the importance of completing the registration process for workers swiftly. He directed all village heads and secretaries to complete the worker registration process immediately and submit the panchayat action plans within a week.

3.2 Informative Sessions:

  • The awareness session included Mr. Atul Tiwari from Pratapgarh and Mr. Shashibhushan from ActionAid, who provided comprehensive details about the NREGA provisions, how to utilize the scheme for sustainable rural development, and the roles of village heads and panchayat secretaries in the process.
  • Mr. Pandey and other resource persons also emphasized the significance of transparency in implementing the scheme, timely wage payments, and guaranteed employment for rural households under NREGA.
nawer1
nawer2
  1. Distribution of Educational Materials:

To further increase the reach of the awareness campaign, Swabhiman Samiti took additional steps to ensure that the information about NREGA was disseminated effectively across rural communities:

  • A total of 2000 handbills (information brochures) were distributed across 16 villages to inform the rural population about the scheme. These handbills provided key details about worker registration, employment guarantee, and how to avail benefits under NREGA.
  • Community Meetings: Swabhiman Samiti organized community meetings in various villages to engage people directly, allowing them to ask questions, clarify doubts, and understand the importance of participating in the program.
  1. Impact of the Program:

The NREGA Awareness Program successfully reached a large number of people and created significant awareness in the targeted communities. Some of the key outcomes included:

  • Increased Participation: The awareness camp helped local officials, such as village heads and panchayat members, understand the importance of the NREGA, leading to greater participation from rural households in the registration process.
  • Improved Knowledge: The camp was successful in spreading critical knowledge about employment rights, registration processes, and the overall framework of the NREGA scheme.
  • Community Mobilization: The distribution of handbills and holding community meetings helped mobilize local communities, encouraging them to take advantage of the employment opportunities offered by the NREGA.
  1. Conclusion:

Swabhiman Samiti’s NREGA Awareness Program was a significant step towards empowering rural citizens and local governance structures about the rights and benefits guaranteed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. By ensuring that community members and local officials are well-informed about the Act, the program aimed to promote better implementation of NREGA in the district, thus improving livelihoods and socio-economic conditions in rural areas.

Looking forward, Swabhiman Samiti plans to continue its efforts to spread awareness about government schemes and policies that can empower rural communities. These initiatives are part of the organization’s larger mission to support rural development, improve living standards, and ensure that government programs reach the people who need them most.