In the twilight of their lives, NREGA offers a helping hand

In the twilight of their lives, NREGA offers a helping hand
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 14
A feeble smile playing on the lips of octogenarian Jasmel Kaur of village Bhalaiana in Muktsar district, who has been forsaken by her family, is her way of appreciating the employment scheme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

Elderly women at village Bhalaiana in Muktsar district work at a pond site under the NREGA scheme. Photo by writer

Jasmel is engaged in digging a common village pond. She is a widow and her seven married children, including five sons, left her to fend for her own, in the twilight of her life.
Though she is disheartened over the behaviour of her children, she terms the NREGA scheme as a boon that keeps her engaged and keeps intact her self-esteem by fetching her meal three times a day.
Like Jasmel, about 55 other Dalit women are engaged in the job at the village. Each of them has her own tale of sorrow to narrate. They have a common thread in their lives — they term the NREGA has helped them overcome the odds in their lives.
Another widow, Harpal Kaur, who was busy shifting sand from one place to another, told this correspondent with her hands trembling, “I lost my son and daughter-in-law in an accident. Since that day, bringing up three grandchildren is my responsibility. It is tough to cope up with circumstances but somehow, I am managing with my earnings from this job. So please do not write anything which can lead to the scheme being discontinued.”
The experience of the elderly Darshan Singh, struck by paralysis, and his wife Baljeet Kaur, who sustained burn injuries, is also touching. They were forsaken by children and are dependent upon NREGA to earn their livelihood. Showing her burnt skin, Baljeet Kaur said, “It is tough to be active in such conditions but when none of our three sons are in a position to bear our expenses, what else can I think of?”
Middle-aged Bhuro Kaur said their voice should be made audible to the politicians. “No doubt the scheme is good but meeting all expenses with such a meagre amount is not possible. We are ready to put in more hard work but the wages, which are about Rs123 now, should be raised. I have to manage my household as my husband is a drug addict. It has been 15 years of marriage but I have no child. So, working here in the company of other women rejuvenates me besides financing my family needs.”
Dependency of the needy upon NREGA gives them a reason to admire it. But one common refrain of the workers was that keeping the liabilities of the employed labourers in mind, the process of payment must be made easier and quicker.