No succour for MGNREGS workers as hot sun sucks out their vitals

Bengaluru: Rising temperatures and heavy workloads have meant that MGNREGS workers across Kalyana and Kittur Karnataka, are experiencing thirst, dry mouth, dry eyes, headaches and other dehydration and heat stress symptoms.

Out of 124 workers surveyed recently in 10 villages from Chikkodi taluk, Belagavi, 72.5 per cent of people work between 10 am and 5 pm and in 68.5 per cent of the cases, no tented or shaded area was provided where workers could take a break. 

The survey, conducted by ActionAid, highlights the plight of workers, especially those working in regions highly prone to heat waves. Out of 31 districts in Karnataka, 15 are highly prone to extreme heat events. 

In Raichur, where temperatures in the day can reach anywhere between 42 ºC to 45 ºC, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers continue to start their shift only at 10 am, working through peak-time heat.

“Since the gram panchayat officials mark attendance on the national mobile monitoring service app, there is a lot of delay. They are able to cover ground and record attendance only at 10 am,” says Basavaraj Raichur of the Grameena Kooli Karmikara Sangha. 

Working under the hot afternoon sun is particularly challenging for workers, given that very few essential facilities are available at the work site. Shavanthagere Babu, a mate (frontline supervisor who oversees work being done at MGNREGA work sites) in Raichur, explains that even water is often funded for by mates.

“I provide about three cans of water to the workers in my gram panchayat and have to buy it myself. I do not know if other mates do the same,” he says. 

The survey, conducted between April 10 and 12, was released on Monday. It highlights that 41% of the workers specified that no drinking water facilities existed.

Out of 124 workers, 85 reported that there were no shaded or tented areas where they could take breaks.