#CuttingEdge #Grassroot #Functionary
GRS Rabi Nayak Wishes for More Responsibilities
As a Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS), his job is to ensure proper implementation of national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS). He has been happily carrying out his duties for last 15 years. He aspires to rise higher in the official hierarchy and serve more people.
Meet 34-year-old Rabi Nayak, who works as a GRS in Similia and Bhubaneswarpur Gram Panchayats in Jajpur district. Quite a loquacious and expressive in nature, he spoke to PHDMA about his life, experience and journey as a grassroot level government functionary.
While studying in intermediate (Plus-II) in 2007, he came across the GRS advertisement and curiously applied for this post. Though he had a dream of joining Indian Army, he couldn’t let go of this job, as he needed money. His unfulfilled dream, however, didn’t prevent him from focusing on his current job. He rather got motivated to work for common people at field level. After getting the job at an early age, he didn’t shy away from studying higher and pursuing graduation while serving as a GRS.
“As I was so much into this job and enjoying working with villagers, I couldn’t think about applying for any other job. With the experience I have earned I want to apply for a higher income job “ cited Rabi.
A father of two children, he lives with his parents, wife and kids at his native village. Earlier, he was posted in his own GP but later, was transferred to neighbouring gram panchayat and given charges of two panchayats. Since the GP headquarters are closer to his village, he doesn’t take pain of travelling much for his work.
As he remains focused in his work, his wife, who has studied till Plus-II, takes care of the family. His father is a farmer and Rabi sometimes help him in farming. Since, the area is prone to flood every year, their crops get damaged frequently causing the family a lot of stress.
According to him, there are around 2000 job card holders in both the panchayats. While most of them get jobs throughout the year, during the farming season, the employment through NREGS gets reduced by 50 percent. In the initial days of his transfer to other panchayats, he faced resistance and silent treatment from labourer contractors. “I have been noticing a lot of change in NREGS works over the years. Whenever I face any problem in my work, I consult with higher officials and sort the issues out immediately. I always try to focus on on-time payment of dues of labourers working under this scheme,” said the GRS.
After working as a GRS for so many years, he now, wishes of appearing for the examination to take promotion for the post of Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO). “I am hopeful of appearing next time and go for the higher post. It’ll allow me to work for a broader section of people and handle more schemes. Besides, an enhancement in salary will also help me invest more in my children’s education,” hoped Rabi.