Press note

3-11-10

The SR Abhiyaan is deeply disturbed by the MoRD’s anti-labour attitude as evidenced by its
Minister’s attempt to misinform the public while continuing to violate citizen’s fundamental rights
and a court order. Mr. CP Joshi has repeated asserted that the Government has obtained a Supreme
Court stay on the Andhra High Court order suspending the GoI notification delinking NREGA
wages from minimum wage. This assertion is false and the Government of India has been in
contempt for more than year.

As per the report, Dr. Joshi claims that he’s waiting for the final judgment of the High Court
due to ambiguity in the existing order. “It has not specified any date,” he said, adding the Centre
could pay wages that prevailed in 2006 when the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MNREGA) came into force. Or it could even pay the minimum of Rs. 60 prescribed
under Section 6(1) of the Act.

The High Court order is unambiguous. It states, “by suspending the operation of the
impugned notification, sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Rural Employment Guarantee Act, would
spring automatically into operation, treating as if the impugned notification has not been made by
the Central Government under sub-section (1) of Section 6”. It appears that the government is
attempting to stall action since in every hearing since the order, its counsel has asked for an
adjournment even while being in continued contempt of the order.

Continued legitimacy of the State is contingent on it following its own laws. It is evident
that there is no room for further delay. Legal, political and judicial consensus mandates that
minimum wages must be paid under the NREGA. Rajasthan NREGA workers will observe a “Black
Diwali” in protest of the government’s continued violation of their fundamental rights. The SR
Abhiyan demands that the Government uphold the fundamental rights of its poorest workers and
immediately implement Section 6(2) of the NREGA in all states. This is the only way for the State
to regain its democratic legitimacy and reestablish Congress government’s “aam aadmi” credentials.

Aruna Roy, Bhanwar Meghwanshi, Hariom Soni, Moti Lal, Richa Odichya, Nikhil Dey, Shankar
Singh, Ram Karan and R D Vyas, Naveen Narayan, Renuka Pamecha, Rawata Ram.
(On behalf of the Rozgar Evum Suchna ke Adhikar ka Abhiyan, Rajasthan)

Suchna evum Rozgar ka adhikar Abhiyan (S R Abhiyan)

Address: 20, Narain Nagar, Badgaon, District Udaipur, Rajasthan
Fax: +91 294 2451391
Email: srabhiyan@gmail.com | Web: srabhiyan.wordpress.com