“We were not aware that we should not give commission to obtain our Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) job cards and also not to give our cards to others...”

That was how many job card holders reacted when they were educated about their rights at a workshop organised by the Union government to ensure effective implementation of the works under the scheme.

Absolutely oblivious to the rights of a job cardholder, these women found themselves being “exploited” by the official mechanism and also by implementing agencies. These women were from Chamundeshwari women self-help group, Chedumanahalli and Venugopalaswami women self-help group in Thimmasandra of Vadaguru gram panchayat, who participated in the awareness programme. Similar programme is being held throughout the State to educate and empower women job card holders about the scheme.

Till now, officials, gram panchayat, taluk panchayat, zilla panchayat officers and members were trained on the MGNREGS and about its implementation process. Despite that, the officials failed to implement the project. Besides, complaints like irregularities, pending wages, shoddy work and lack of man power dogged the project, which further hampered various works. Considering this, the Central government has now decided to educate and train job cardholders about the scheme, to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.

Understanding the fact that self-help group members will play a vital role in carrying out the works under this scheme, the Central government is quietly conducting the awareness programme with the help of Abdul Nazeer Sab Institute for Rural Development, Mysore. A selected 30 women in every gram panchayat in the State have been selected to conduct training from December 12 to February 5. A majority of women undergoing training are farmers and job cardholders.

“Had they conducted the training earlier, it would have empowered many women to question the shoddy work in their area,” said trainer K S Nagaveni. She told Deccan Herald that not many had participated in the training conducted only for officials but women self-help groups’ participation is 90 per cent. This shows their commitment towards the work, she added.

Gangamma, who attended the workshop said, she and her fellow members of the SHG will not allow the officials to exploit them and ensure proper implementation of  the project.