Manav Seva Sansthan

A very large section of population in both rural and urban areas is poor and does not have enough means to livelihood. According to Census 2001, Uttar Pradesh has 23.7 per cent main workers, 8.8 per cent marginal workers and 67.5 per cent non-workers. This means over three-fourth population either has no source, or has insufficient sources of livelihood. As a result, food security of these people suffers.

The government has made efforts on regular intervals to ensure livelihood and food security of the people. But these schemes have failed because of deep rooted corruption in the system and lackadaisical approach of the government machinery. Latest in the series of such efforts is the much hyped National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which guarantees 100 days' manual labour work to any villager in India.

But NREGS too is threatened by corruption and lethargy in the system. MSS feels that an informed citizenry will keep appropriate checks on the implementers and help them benefit from the scheme. In view of this, MSS organised a Rozgar Haq Yatra (employment right journey) in rural areas of Fatehpur district to give latest information about the provisions of the scheme.

It also organised a District Level Public Hearing to apprise the district officials about the real state of affairs prevailing at the village level. As a result of the public hearing, the process of registration and job card issuance hastened up.

MSS is regularly organising training programmes for artisans and providing marketing support to them. Notable among are:

• Organisation of zari and zardozi artisans and holding their convention
• Training to women and adolescent girls in zari and zardozi art. These training are generally of six month duration
• Vocational and technical skill development programme
• Cutting and tailoring training to women scavengers freed from their occupation
• Training in card box making to former women scavengers
• Formation of self help groups and their capacity building