NREGA boon for family-forsaken elderly

NREGA boon for family-forsaken elderly
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 12

The employment guarantee scheme initiated under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is proving to be a boon for those elderly who have been forsaken by their family members and have to eke out a livelihood in the twilight phase of their lives.
During a random visit to village Lehra Dhurkot in the district, located on Bathinda-Chandigarh highway, around 30 elderly persons were witnessed digging a common pond (chhappar) near the cremation ground.
With beads of sweat on their brow, they shared their sorrows and joy with TNS.
“We are employed here under a scheme called NREGA for the past three months. We have dug up a pond in the village. This scheme is quite helpful for us as our kin have refused to give us shelter,” said an elderly woman Som Nath.
“Around 20 years back, my son went his own way and now at the age of 75, the scheme is proving good for me as here we collectively work, enjoy and get the money to eke out a livelihood,” he added.
The others too narrated their tale. Almost all of them were dejected due to family problems as they had been abandoned by their kin or had lost their life partners.
In a choked voice, an elderly couple, Bhura Singh and Daleep Kaur, said, “We have two daughters and two sons, all married. In the last phase of our lives, they have left us in the lurch. Now we are depending on this scheme of employment for our livelihood.”
Darshan Singh, who had lost a hand and Jagsir Singh, who was struck by polio, were also seen working happily there.
Grey-haired Gurmel Singh said, “I have two sons and four daughters, two of whom are married. It was all my ill fate that one of my married daughters, due to some dispute with her in-laws has now come back to sray with us along with her three children.
It is my sheer helplessness because of which I am here but when I join these people for work, I forget all my worries.”
A widow, Harjeet Kaur, said, “I have two sons who are quite young to earn their livelihood. So, I am working here.”
Before leaving the place, they all enthusiastically said, “We are working to earn wages which would guarantee us food and happiness. Every fortnight, we are paid according to the fixed wages. This time, we have been told that the wages have been revised, which is good news for us.”
When asked why they did not go to harvest the wheat crop, they replied, “The scheme guarantees work for only 100 days in a year and we are about to complete that period. We fear that if we leave this project midway, the government may not allow us to rejoin. So, we all are committed and for the moment, do not want to go anywhere else.”