NREGS: A "Golden Duck" for corrupt officials

No matter how hard the governments try, the poor and underprivileged workers continue to be exploited. No matter how many reforms the central and state governments have taken in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, they are becoming meaningless due to the irregularities that are breaking new ground at the field level from time to time. In Uttarandhra, the field assistants and the lower level of corruption started step by step and finally reached somewhere and the laborers are losing. If this scheme is a money-making dream for some, it is a golden duck for others! As a result, the scheme has lost its ambition and is being ridiculed.

Starting from field assistants

Whoever is the mastermind in the illegal fair, the field assistants and mats are competing in playing their roles. Taking the latest case as an example... The workers who have been waiting for these for years are expressing happiness as the total wages have been deposited in the personal bank accounts of the employed workers within the last three days after the Central Rural Development Department released the final installments of the first installment of the works to the state five days ago.

Those above 60 years are the victims

However, a lion's share of these wages is hijacked by some workers due to health problems among them. People above 60 years of age will not be employed. However, in the past, those who were mistakenly under age registered in Aadhaar cards continue to be workers even after 60 years. Many people are unable to go to work due to old age. Also, people suffering from chronic illness are not going to work even if they are under 60 years of age. Mates and field assistants are like that.

They are turning into golden ducks. It has become a custom for those who cannot go to work to be cheated, and as soon as their wages are deposited, they are forced to take them to banks, withdraw the amount, put it nominally in their hands and keep the remaining amount as their own. Recently, each of them has been credited with 50 weeks salary, out of which they have been given one week's salary and the remaining four weeks are being pressed.

There are about six such people in each group. That is, it is said that up to 30 thousand rupees will be available for each time. For example, in a village where there are 50 groups, this type of corruption is estimated to be up to 15 lakhs. It is a firm opinion that it will not be less than 10 lakhs. In this calculation, how much across the region? How much is district wide? Whose share is this? It became interesting.