Chamarajanagar: Rampant corruption in NREGA scheme drives honest engineer to suicide


Daijiworld Media Network - Chamarajanagar

Chamarajanagar, Jun 24: In a telling example of the extent to which corruption has seeped into the society, a young engineer allegedly ended his life due to the deep-rooted corruption in the rural employment scheme under NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act).

The deceased has been identified as Suresh (24), a resident of Kagalavady of Chamarajanagar taluk.

After completing his civil engineering recently, Suresh was appointed for five gram panchayats of Kollegal including Kuratti Hosur on contract basis under the employment guarantee scheme. As he was unable to cope with the corruption and irregularities of the gram panchayat ex-president and PDO, he took the drastic step of immolating himself, said his father Mariswamy Shetty.

Suresh was reportedly frustrated with the poor functioning of the panchayats and refused to create and clear fake bills. Unable to bear the torture allegedly meted out by the gram panchayat president of Kuratti Hosur and panchayat development officers, he poured kerosene and set himself ablaze in his residence. His mother who was at home at the time of the incident rushed to his rescue and admitted him to hospital. However, he succumbed to injuries as he had suffered 90% burns.

The NREGA was brought into effect by the UPA government. In Kagalvady, the scheme was full of illegalities, and the gram panchayat president Sardar, PDO Vairtamudi Manikyan and Sardar’s wife Saroja were reportedly forcing Suresh to clear fake bills. But Suresh refused to budge and also declined to share the bribe money. When it became too much to bear and when he saw there was no help or support from higher-ups, he took his life, said Mariswamy Shetty in the complaint filed in the Ramasamadra police station.

"My son’s honesty had torn apart his life; he committed suicide because he was unable to live in an environment pervaded by corruption. The guilty have to be punished," said Mariswamy Shetty.

"Just a week ago, the MP had ordered Suresh's transfer to some other place. But then he took this drastic step. The case will be investigated thoroughly," said Dr K H Narasimhamurthy, ZP CEO, Chamarajanagar.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Mohammed Riyaz, Udupi

    Thu, Jun 26 2014

    The corruption in our India met high mountain. But still many of the people Voted for the corrupted politicians. It means people are happy with corruption. This corruption takes many of the peoples lifes, Many of the peoples life makes like hell, Many of the families were destroyed.
    We should fight against corruption and make India as corruption free country.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • B C FERNANDES, mangalore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Honest officers should not fear transfers. I was transferred to Raichur for unearthing mines scam at raichur I unearthed evasion of entertainment tax by theatres they drove me back to Mangalore. Here I am fighting the sewage problem with MCC. Honesty means God and God protects the Honest. Hence it is unfortunate that this engineer without discussing his problem in the public domain has taken this drastic step. I also request the general public to help honest officers with atleast uttering some encouraging words. This would boost the morale. The religous leaders should recognise such honest officers and they should be felicitated. This would give them the courage to do more good work. PrAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
    b c fernandes
    mangalore

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf, Mumbai

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    RIP!!

    Upright and honest people have no place in this corrupt society!! If they have to survive they have to join the coterie or else look the other way for all the wrongs that are going on in front of their eyes !! Whenever a honest officer detects corruption and initiates action against the culprits protected by the establishment they are transferred. In subsequent postings when they raise the old issues and ask for action against offenders they was told that this was no longer their concern. Transfer is an instrument not only of harassment but also of silencing protest within the system and law breakers walk away unpunished, unassailable and stronger than before, this is the sorry state of affairs everywhere!!

    One very famous IAS officer who was once Pune municipal commissioner was transferred 26 times in 35 years besides the other harassment for opposing corruption!!

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • JSaheb,

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Ending life is the solution? whether all engineers depend on NREGA scheme????

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manohar Veigas, UDUPI

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Sadly, most of the Schemes made for the common man by the Government has only encouraged corruption from the grass root level. Sometimes, while having a deep scrutiny of most of the schemes, like the NREGA, the intention itself has to be doubted since it gives huge scope for corruption on the one hand and creating a class of labour who are available only on the roll and are paid without toil and hence will not opt for any fruitful employment given the taste of this hollow schemes. However, if the Government is really serious about the common man, then the death of this honest engineer, needs to be inquired with all sincerity.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • avani, mlore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    This is the reason why I have been repeatedly saying corruption problems at lower levels must be addressed first before getting into high level corruptions. Kick backs, commissions are common around the world. But common man in his day to day life should not feel the pinch of corruption. Tax departments, panchayaths, Muncipalities, corporations, Electricity and water boards and so on which deal with common men at large should be cleansed of corruption first. The people and groups against corruption must start their campaign in this direction.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • jeetendra hegde, mumbai

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    The UPA's all the schemes were to usurb the tax payers money....They left empty coffins for present govt.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramakrishna. K. , Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    NREGA is nothing but it is N-ROGA which means National Disease (ROGA) infected by former UPA govt where looting is allowed Nationwide.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abhishek Padival Jain, Sullia/Bangalore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    The CEO of ZP has told that this case will be investigated thoroughly.
    It is a foregone conclusion that - at the end those investigators will submit a report stating that the Engineer Suresh had mental problems because of which he committed suicide, and he did not commit suicide because of corruption in NREGA.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi B Shenava, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Just a week ago the MP had ordered the transfer of honest Engineer Suresh.
    This proves that even the Local MP is also involved in the corruption racket of NREGA.

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen Shetty, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Devaru Kottaru Poojari Bida. We blame Sonia Ghandhi and Congress for loot. But we need to see what is happening at grass root levels.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jun 25 2014

    Very sad a Young engineer ended his life ,for the corrupt govt.people.It Shows how difficult for a normal Person has to suffer under this corruption.and it is increasing day by day.no wonder when govt gives out Money it sickers elsewhere but not needy.Heartfelt sympathy to the Family.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • stan, dubai

    Tue, Jun 24 2014

    Sad... Corruption drives Honest people to suicide???? Party or political leaders make no difference. Most of our Indians got bad blood i.e. Corruption, cheating etc. I will not support any party.... At present AAP is Hope.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdullah Amin, Udupi / Bahrain

    Tue, Jun 24 2014

    NREGA is a shortcut to fill the coffers of UPA. Siddu should be dismantled at the earliest to bring in transparency and even scrap the scheme. Tell me, who is labour in grafter getting 30 kgs of rice a month? Only the bars are prospering and the migrants in Karnataka!!!!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Eric Coelho, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 24 2014

    We are heading no where but to hell. This case will reach nowhere but to gather dust for good. I feel very very sorry for his family. Corrupted creepers has already deeply infested in our system and it is the AAM AADMI get up or else we are doomed.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse


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