Rozgar Adhikar Yatra 2005

Participants of the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra have sent reports of their experiences during the course of its journey through ten states. These reports are collected on this page.

First Yatra Report: The Rozgar Adhikar Yatra - five days on Second Yatra Report: Two Weeks On

Third Yatra Report (Nagpur to Raipur) [Hindi]

Fourth Yatra Report (Yatra reaches Surguja)

Fifth Yatra Report (Lathi Charge in Surguja)

Sixth Yatra Report (Report from Ranchi)

Seventh Yatra Report (Among the Kols of Shankargarh)

Final Yatra Report

The Rozgar Adhikar Yatra was brutally attacked and lathi-charged on 4 June by a group of policemen in civilian clothes, armed with lathis and loaded AK-47s. For an eye-witness account of the event click here (for the Hindi translation click here).

Press Coverage related to the attack:

Outrage in Balrampur

Dreze attacked as he looked like Naxal: Cops

Assault on Dreze a case of mistaken identity: Ch'garh police

Rozgar Adhikar Yatra participants lathicharged

Noted economist Jean Dreze beaten up

Chhattisgarh orders probe into assault on economist

Dreze assault:'Mistaken identity', says Chhattisgarh police

BBC Hindi

Beasts in Uniform

Assault on a yatra (Frontline, 1 July 2005)

Where parties fear to tread (Economic Times, 10 June 2005)

A Jan Manch was held on July 2, 2005 when the Yatra returned to Delhi at Speakers Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi from 10 am to 5 pm. For a schedule of the day's events click here. A summary report of the Jan Manch is available here.

Press coverage of the Jan Manch

Left wants Employment Bill tabled in monsoon session (Hindu, 3 July 2005)

No guarantee for work (Hindu Magazine, 3 July 2005)

Left demands Job Guarantee Bill (Central Chronicle, 3 July 2005)

Left - Employment (Outlook, 3 July 2005)

Table Employment Guarantee Bill in monsoon session: Left (Business Line, 2 July 2005)

50-day long Rozgar Adhikar Yatra culminates (NDTV, 2 July 2005)

Forum seeks adoption of employment guarantee law (webindia123.com, 2 July 2005)

Forum seeks adoption of employment guarantee law (newkerala.com, 2 July 2005)

Centre gives assurance under Employment Guarantee Bill (Hindu, 2 July 2005)

A sample of documents prepared by People's Action for Employment Guarantee and others for press conferences, public meetings, etc.

Rozgar Adhikar Yatra - Why and How? [Hindi]

EGA Factsheet [Hindi]

Sample leaflet [Hindi]

Primer on EGA (revised October 2005)

Critique of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill 2004 NFFWP guidelines (main points) [Hindi]

The People's Action for Employment Guarantee launched the "Rozgar Adhikar Yatra" on 13 May 2005 from Delhi. The aim of this Yatra was to consolidate the campaign for a full-fledged, universal and irreversible Employment Guarantee Act. Beyond this, the Yatra sought to affirm the right to work as an aspect of the fundamental right to live with dignity.The Yatra went through ten states (Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh) before returning to Delhi on 2 July 2005. A series of public meetings, state conventions, cultural activities, public demonstrations, press conferences, etc., took place on the way.