Changes We Bring

Welfare Rights

Changes We Bring
  • Right To Information: In a democracy, the freedom of expression and the right to information are considered integral concepts. The trend towards recognizing these rights has been unstoppable globally since the last decade of the previous century. The greater the access to information in a democracy, the greater is the government's responsiveness to the community's needs. The recognition of the right to information upholds the dignity of all human beings and it is considered a fundamental human right. Jan Chetna, being an organization for people's awareness, has tried to educate the community about this Act and encourage its practice. To achieve this goal, many meetings and sammelans were organized at different times. As a result, people from Abu Road have sought information from time-to-time from various departments including the panchayats.

  • Right To Food: The government has several food security schemes for the poorest people, such as PDS, BPL, Antyodaya and Annapurna Anna Yojana, Mid-Day Meal (MDM), and ICDS. However, the targeting of these schemes is poor, and problems related to budget and implementation often persist. The denial of the right to food security is the root cause of hunger. Jan Chetna recognized the need to help these tribals and began to actively participate in the ongoing right to food campaign. It also took the initiative to improve the BPL identification process and held the state accountable for non-accessibility of food security schemes through public hearings and social audits. The organization also participated in the national struggle for the enactment of NREGA, which would provide tribal poor with the purchasing power to obtain at least two meals a day for themselves. Jan Chetna has worked enthusiastically since the beginning of the implementation of this act, and it is now bearing fruit in the form of an improved life for the tribals.

  • Right To Work: The demand for the right to work in Rajasthan led to the initiation of the Rozgar Yatra, which spread across the entire state and nation. Subsequently, the organization engaged in a struggle with the government and contributed to the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Their efforts focused on timely employment and wage distribution, as well as planning and monitoring of activities in gram sabhas, enhancing community understanding, while actively collaborating with the right to work campaign to provide feedback and suggestions to the government.

  • Social Audits: To ensure the effective reach of major government schemes such as Mid-Day Meal, Ration, Pensions, NREGA, PM Awas Yojana, Palanhaar and many others to all eligible individuals in villages, the state government initiated social auditing for the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. This process aims to maintain transparency and the local administration continues to support Jan Chetna in upholding transparency. The Girwar Social Audit was organized by Jan Chetna in liaison with Center for Equity Studies (CES) Jaipur, with support from National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad. Residents of the village, along with members of Jan Chetna had applied and obtained the records muster rolls, bills, vouchers and sanctions – pertaining to 17 development works under various schemes undertaken in 2004-05 and 2005-06 using the Right to Information Act, 2005. After a door-to-door verification process over a few days, a public hearing took place on May 9th, 2006 attended by hundreds of residents from Girwar panchayat and as many as 18 neighboring panchayats besides many representatives of organizations from the state and outside. The workers testified that the work had been conducted through contractors, with workers from outside the panchayat, while many female workers claimed that they only received Rs. 40 as a daily wage as compared to minimum wage of Rs. 73. Huge irregularities came to light, with regards to the Public Distribution System (PDS), Indira Awas Yojana and more. The findings were presented by the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information with Aruna Roy, S.K Mittal, PC Jain and more stakeholders and civil society organizations. Subsequently, cases were filed by workers and different officials who were engaged.

  • Rajasthan Social Inclusion Programme (RSIP): The programme aimed to work on generating awareness at local and district level, to ensure the inclusion of Persons with Disability within various schemes of the government. The department of Social Justice and Empowerment organized camps along with Jan Chetna, where medical certificates, pension, rail passes and assistive devices were provided for PwDs. An action group, called the Disabled People’s Organisation was formed at the district and block levels, with a membership of 360 individuals. DPO primarily works on advocacy, service delivery, awareness generation and holding dialogues between relevant stakeholders. They also regularly hold training on rights and entitlements for PwDs in various panchayats. Efforts for secured and sustained livelihood opportunities to PWDs and to enhance their skills, a total of 7 trainings were organized with 164 PwDs. In three SHGs, 15 PwDs were supported to start their small enterprises at the local level. It also reaches schools & NGOs working in the project area on the issue of social inclusion of PWDs. Awareness building activities are undertaken to reach out to the general population, and several programs are also organized for raising awareness at local and district levels. These initiatives have resulted in PwDs getting better cooperation and support from key stakeholders in availing benefits.

  • Goonj: In collaboration with Jan Chetna Sansthan, the organization is actively working in rural areas of Abu Road and Pindwara blocks in Sirohi district. The 'Cloth for Work' program by Goonj serves as a benchmark, where villagers are provided with clothes or other necessary items in exchange for their labor. As a part of this program, small bridges are built in some villages, while wells are dug in others. Water conservation efforts are carried out in some places, and sanitation programs in others. Goonj's impact continues to expand, not limited to distributing old clothes but also other items like shoes, toys, stationery, and books as well. Additionally, hundreds of volunteers have joined forces with Goonj.