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Two Villages In Rajasthan Prefer Not To Be Classified As Urban Areas
Context:
Two villages in Rajasthan—Goluwala Sihagaan and Goluwala Nivadaan—oppose their classification as urban areas due to the potential loss of rural development benefits and social security schemes.
Residents’ Concerns
- Desire to Stay Rural: Residents want to remain eligible for benefits under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other rural schemes.
- Petition Against Municipality: The villagers protested the formation of a municipality and filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court, resulting in a stay order on the municipality’s operations.
Government’s Decision and Residents’ Reactions
- Urban Development Initiatives: The Rajasthan government aimed to dissolve the village councils and form a municipality for urban development.
- Suspension of MGNREGA: With the formation of the municipality, MGNREGA work was halted, causing unrest among the villagers, leading to protests and legal action.
Social Security Schemes at Stake
- Impact on Livelihoods: Approximately 3,000 MGNREGA cards support 6,000 registered workers in the two villages. Many families rely on the income from this scheme.
- Pradhan Mantri Gramin Aawas Yojana: The rural housing scheme would also be discontinued, affecting residents’ ability to build homes.
- Other Social Benefits: MGNREGA workers fear losing benefits like those from the Labour Welfare Board and other social security schemes if the municipality is formed.
Workers’ Voices
- Dependence on MGNREGA: Many workers, especially from Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, rely on MGNREGA for their livelihoods, making the municipality formation a major threat to their income.
- No Alternative Employment: MGNREGA is a key source of income for families, including women and elderly workers, with no alternatives available if the scheme stops.
Traders’ and Officials’ Perspective
- Support for Municipality: Local shopkeepers and traders advocate for the municipality, hoping for better infrastructure like improved roads and drainage systems.
- Village Council Resources: The current village councils have limited resources, but the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme would not provide as much work as MGNREGA.
