This is a statement from eminet academic-activist Jean Dreze, also a former member of the national advisory council.

Palpati Kumari, a 14-year old girl who was studying at Barwahi Middle School in Manika Block of Latehar District (Jharkhand) but also working in her spare time as an NREGA worker, died today as the well in which she was working collapsed.

The incident happened in village Paleja (gram panchayat Paleja). Several workers were in the well when it collapsed. Most of them were quickly pulled out but Palpati died and two others — also young girls — were injured Anita Kumari and Raj Kumari Devi. The injured have been taken to Latehar Hospital, where Palpati Kumari’s body has also been taken for post-mortem.

Anita Kumari, like Palpati Kumari, was also studying at Barwahi Middle School. Persons below the age of 18 years are not supposed to work on NREGA worksites.

It may be recalled that the completion of NREGA wells in Jharkhand has been a critical issue for a long time. The construction of wells was launched on a mass scale two years ago, but most of them were incomplete as the monsoon approached in May 2011. Despite repeated pleas for urgent action, the government of Jharkhand failed to ensure the timely completion of wells and most of them filled with water during the monsoon.

Anxious to avoid a repeat of this tragedy, some district authorities in Jharkhand (e.g. in Ranchi district) are taking constructive steps to enable people to complete their wells on time this year. In some district, however, heavy-handed tactics are being used instead of constructive action. For instance, it was reported at a public hearing in Ranchi on February 15, that well owners in Khunti district are receiving stern “notices” warning them that legal action will be taken against them unless they resume the construction of their wells immediately.This is not only unfair to the well owners but also inappropriate because premature work in wells that have not fully dried up is dangerous. If the sides of the wells are soft, the well can collapse on the workers – this is what happened today in Paleja.