When Shanti put Refusal on Record

Seven labourers were denied work under MGNREGA after the contractor told them there was no work available. 

Shanti Murmu was part of this moment—not as a contractor, official, or supervisor, but as someone who understood that once a muster is generated, work cannot be refused without consequence. When she went with the labourers to the site the next day, the contractor told them he already had enough workers and there was no space for them. Shanti returned to the village and chose not to argue further at the site. Instead, she wrote an application addressed to the Block Development Officer. In it, she stated clearly that denying work after muster generation violated constitutional guarantees. The letter did not appeal for sympathy or discretionary relief. It documented a violation and asked that it be acknowledged.

The response from the block office directed that employment allowance be paid to the seven labourers. The work itself was not provided. But the refusal was formally recorded, and compensation followed.

Shanti does not describe this incident as a success. “Kaam nahi mila” “The work was not given” she says plainly. But the labourers received what they were legally entitled to once work was denied. For her, the importance of the incident lay in what it demonstrated—that refusal does not end a claim.

This incident reflects a larger everyday reality in Kusumba village, under Pahadpur Panchayat in Jharkhand. MGNREGA operates in the panchayat, but access is uneven. Roughly half of those who seek work are employed; others remain without work and often migrate outside the village. The issue is not the absence of schemes, but limited access and inconsistent implementation.

Over the past two years, while working with Ambedkar Samajik Sansthan, Shanti’s role has focused on awareness and last-mile delivery - explaining welfare schemes, accompanying labourers during MGNREGA-related issues, and mobilising women to attend Gram Sabha meetings. Many women, she notes, are unaware of what kinds of work are available to them under MGNREGA.

The denial of work marked a shift in how Shanti approached such situations. Earlier, applications were written as routine requests. After engaging with the We The People Abhiyan (WTPA) training, her applications became more precise. She began explicitly naming violations, referencing constitutional provisions, and ensuring that every submission received official acknowledgment. This changed how complaints were processed, and how confidently follow-up questions could be asked.

Shanti often reflects on how understanding equality reshaped her confidence. “Jab pata chala ki barabari ka haq diya gaya hai,” she says, “to darr kam ho gaya.” “When I realised that the right to equality had been guaranteed,” she says, “the fear reduced.” Earlier, she avoided meetings and hesitated to question authority. Now, she participates actively in Gram Sabha and Panchayat processes, especially encouraging women to step forward. According to her, even one woman stepping forward can bring many others into collective spaces.

Today, her work extends beyond MGNREGA. She has been involved in organising pension camps and Kaam Mango Abhiyan activities. Over the past two years, around eighty people have benefited from her steady engagement - not through dramatic interventions, but through follow-up, documentation, and continued presence.

A few years ago, when she moved to the village after her marriage, Shanti felt dependent on others. Today, people approach her for help navigating processes that once intimidated her as well. The case of the seven labourers remains a reference point, not because it ended perfectly, but because it showed that denial can be recorded, challenged, and answered.

Sometimes, the shift begins with a letter that asserts a claim.

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.