He tried to expose corruption in the implementation of MNREGA works
An RTI activist who tried to expose corruption in the implementation of schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in Hassan district is allegedly facing a threat to his life from a government official.
However, the police are yet to register the complaint lodged on December 30 by R. Mari Joseph, who is also convener of the Dalit Vimochana Manava Hakkugala Vedike.
Pro-Dalit organisations, in a press conference on December 30, had asked the district administration to take action against the official.
Later, they filed a complaint with the Hassan City police and met Superintendent of Police Amit Singh. The South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring has also taken notice of the incident and lodged a complaint with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.
Graft
However, Mr. Joseph alleged that the police were refusing to register the complaint.
He claimed that there was large-scale corruption in the implementation of works under MNREGA in the district. He said that through RTI applications, he had found that in Shettihalli Gram Panchayat in Hassan taluk and Magge Gram Panchayat in Alur taluk, MNREGA workers were not paid the extra component of Rs. 3 along with the daily wage of Rs. 125.
‘MNREGA workers are not getting daily wages’
Police refused to register a complaint