Most corruption complaints against babus from BPL families……..UJJWALANAYUDU
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) claims to have registered a lot more complaints against officials in the government schemes and Nagarpalika or Panchayat offices from the BPL families, of late.
ACB Director Chitranjan Singh said the highest number of complaints related to corruption to rural housing schemes, employment and ration and food schemes. Only recently, the ACB arrested a talati from Palanpur for demanding a bribe of Rs 3,000 from a BPL family to sanction money for purchase of construction equipment. Likewise, a postmaster from Navsari was arrested for demanding Rs 5,000 as bribe for clearing a cheque of a NREGS worker.
Singh, however, said that since the complainants from the lower strata are scared of the consequences, most do not come forward to complain. “We have, therefore, assured them full protection after the arrest of the accused. The police keep a watch on the complainant for a few days more. The ACB police even protect their identity during the trap. They are too poor to afford a living and even a bribe of Rs 500 is a big problem for them,” he said.
The ACB has also started distributing patraks (letters) in villages and district through the district police. The letters educate the people on corruption, how complaints can be filed, how are the traps laid, safety of their money and identity (if needed) and the protection of the complainants after the trap.