Workers risk life to keep NH green

MGNREGA was a scheme designed to develop infrastructural facilities in rural areas and to provide employment for people in rural areas during the lean periods. But in Vadaku Thittankulam village the women working under MGNREGA were forced to water the plants on the highways that too from a dangerous well despite their opposition.  Speaking to DTNext, one of the workers, Ramalakshmi, said that more than 25 women workers were involved in fetching water from a deserted well to water the saplings on the highway. There were only around 15 proper steps inside the well and that covers only half the distance. 

The remaining half was covered by stones inside the well and the women who knew swimming were forced to stand on the lower part of the well so that even if they slip, they can manage to swim up. The woman at the end of the line would fetch a plastic can full of water and would pass to the upper part via the line of women on the staircases. Many would be standing in fear inside the well while passing the can full of water said Ramalakshmi. Another worker Selvi said at least four or five women would fully be drenched in the process of watering the plants. The work had been going on like this for more than two months and though they had insisted the officials to change the nature of the work or to provide water from other sources there was no reply. 

Activists also condemn the inhuman practise. Muthumurugan, a social activist in Kovilpatti, said “There is severe shortage of drinking water in Kovilpatti and hence there is no other source of water available for supplying water to the saplings planted along the Kovilpatti-Ettayapuram highways.” However, the work that women were indulged in was inhuman and the officials should immediately stop it. 

“Women are risking their lives daily for a meagre salary from the MGNREGA which are not even paid regularly in the past three months,” Muthumurugan said. When Block Development Officer of Kovilpatti, Mohan, who is in-charge of MGNREGA, was contacted, he said that he was not aware of the dangerous nature of the work carried out by these women and assured that he would send the officials to cancel the work.