On 29^th June 2019, in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a job card mela was organised in Malwan Gram Panchayat. Job card applications were submitted by the Convergence- Community Resource person (CCRP) Rita didi. The concerned applications were submitted almost three months back and after consistent follow up, 16 beneficiaries were able to get job cards. However it was not easy task. The Rozgar sewak of the Panchayat was skeptic since she felt that people do not work and hence there was no point of giving them job cards. It was due to the persistent efforts of Rita didi the people were able to get job cards.

The mentor and Field Coordinator from KS NRO came up with the idea of having a job card mela so that the women would feel encouraged to work in MGNREGA and it would be an opportunity for them to interact with the Pradhan.  Thus 29^th June was set as the date. The Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) was informed about the plan, women were mobilised and Pradhan ji was invited. Unfortunately on the day of mela things did not go as planned. Women turned up in good numbers and there was a sense of excitement but Pradhan ji did not come on time and everyone had to wait for almost an hour. At the end, he did come which was met with cheer. CLF president – Sadhna didi was also there. Pradhan ji himself gave each woman a job card and before leaving the venue he informed people about the wage rate in MGNREGA and told that if anyone was interested to work, they could directly approach him. The event gave women hope that despite things did not go as planned, around 16 women did receive job cards under MGNREGA. Based on the success of this mela, the project will focus on organising such job card melas and also try to create awareness among women about MGNREGA and its benefits.