29 May 2012 was a great day for Prayas team who started writing its script three years back (15 August,2009 precisely) in Shivaji Nagar, a colony of labourers nearby Employee development center of NTPC Shakti Nagar. Later it was well established with various wings and developmental dimension at NTPC Rihand Nagar (NTPC Mauda is other key center).
Prof. Jean Dreze and Prof. Reetika Khera on invitation of Prayas team visited Rihand Nagar to see the development activities conducted by youth like us. It was a proud day for Prayas and we felt privileged getting clicked in picture with them.
Sirsoti, the neighbouring village of NTPC Rihand, is the center of activities of Prayas since July 2011. As a part of visits of these eminent professors, a meeting of villagers were organized. More than seventy five villagers were turned up although they were very shorty informed. During meeting they shared their problems, expectations from NTPC and the benefits they got because of this organization. Jean Dreze took special interest in knowing the conditions of MGNREGA workers and also went with them to their homes to know their family conditions. Many of labourers are not aware about MGNREGA scheme and they thought jobs have been created by Gram Pradhan. After inquiry it was revealed that payment is delayed by months and in some cases by a year.
Jean and Reetika also took special interest in visiting Gandhi Dham, the colony where sweepers, who work in power plant and in the township, have been living since NTPC was established at Rihand Nagar. Within half a hour many of them gathered at one point and as usual started venting out their problems. Both professors, getting emotional and feeling pinch in their heart by knowing their problems, listened them patiently. As villagers are oblivion about making arrangement for sitting, they simply sat down on the ground. Then some of them brought chairs and implored us to seat on the chair. Jean refused to take seat. One lady asked, "you are good people (specially in officer and powerful term rather generosity), so please have seat." Dreze professed," Do not think us different. When you will start thinking you and us, the same, you will not have any problems in life." Jean and Reetika were deeply moved by knowing that their children were not able to go school because government schools are located at far distance and they are unable to pay fees in public schools. Their cards (Ration card, BPL card) are now dysfunctional as they are declared part of NTPC township and not of Gram Panchayat. Probably their names have also been removed from voter list. There is no light, shortage of water and dismal condition of locality. Later Jean told them to cooperate with Prayas team who would work for their education and would take care of other stuff. Reetika passionately expressed her desire that NTPC should take responsibility for arranging a vehicle for these children, to enable them to go school. Before leaving the place, Jean made them speak in corus, "Ham sab ek hain (we all are the same)".
Late night Jean spent one hour with Prayas team and appreciated their work and also inspired them to continue with this always. All teams members were feeling enlightened with him, although none of them except me were knowing his greatness. He promised to be our mentor.
Jean Dreze who came India for one year for his educational purpose, decided to stay here after seeing prevailing acute poverty. He had conceptualized and drafted the first version of the NREGA. His co-authors include Nobel laureate in economic Amartya Sen, with whom he has written on famine, and Nicholas Stern, with whom he has written on policy reform when market prices are distorted. He is currently an honorary Professor at the Delhi School of Economics and was a member of the National Advisory Council of India in both first and second term. Reetika Khera is professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
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