Reported by Timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Jun 6, 2012
RTI reply exposes anomalies in job payment - The Times of India

Garhwa: Irregularities involving forged payment of labourers in construction of a road under the MGNREGA have come to light at Gobardaha village in Meral block of the district. The matter has been exposed after information was sought under the RTI Act by social activist Dilawar Khan. Deputy commissioner Rajendra Pratap Sinha has taken the matter seriously.

Under the scheme number 161112, construction of a road from Gobardaha-Chatania to Aqlim Ansari's house has been allotted for Rs 11.10 lakh. "Wages of many labourers have been allegedly withdrawn who were not physically fit for work and many others who never worked on the road. But names have been shown who had received Rs 2,160 per head," said a source. Some of the persons on whose name payment was made denied working on the road. "I have never worked on the road. I have been on the verge of starvation because of poverty", said Aliman Bibi, a widow of Gobardaha village. Her job card number was shown as 291 and account number 10660510. "I don't have job card nor any account," she added.

The DC said, "FIRs will be lodged against those who were involved in the fraud after an inquiry. They will be sent to jail."