Bandipora, Jul 12: Former minister and ex-MLA Bandipora, Usman Majid, sounded the alarm over what he termed as “deep-rooted corruption and mafia-style operations” in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
In a statement issued here, Majid demanded an impartial probe by the Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Department, alleging large-scale irregularities, misuse of funds, and systemic corruption within the scheme’s execution.
“The revelations are not just shocking. They represent a complete betrayal of the purpose for which MGNREGA was introduced,” he said.
Majid expressed serious concern over the reported engagement of non-local labourers in the district under the scheme, which, he emphasised, was launched to provide guaranteed employment to local jobless youth.
“It is deeply astonishing that labourers from outside Jammu and Kashmir are being engaged under MGNREGA in Bandipora. The scheme was meant to alleviate rural unemployment, not to benefit outsiders,” he said.
He alleged that a nexus involving Gram Rozgar Sevaks (GRS), field staff, and some contractors was operating with impunity, using MGNREGA job cards to siphon funds into the accounts of their own relatives and associates.
“Fake work records are being created. Machines are replacing manual labour. Payments are being manipulated and misappropriated. This isn’t just negligence, it’s a well-organised scam,” Majid said, describing the system as “hijacked and turned into a mafia”.
The former MLA further claimed that the benefits of the scheme are being cornered by a few individuals, particularly those with political affiliations, rather than reaching the larger community.
“The scheme has been politicised to such an extent that even the honest efforts of some young officers are being neutralised,” he said.
He called for a comprehensive audit of assets and properties of all officials and functionaries involved in the scheme, asserting that without strong accountability measures, the rot would continue.
“A detailed audit is the need of the hour. The assets of those linked with MGNREGA must be scrutinised to unearth the depth of the corruption,” Majid said.
Terming the situation a “betrayal of public trust and central government policy”, Majid appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene personally and ensure the original spirit of MGNREGA is restored.
“We cannot allow a poverty-alleviation scheme to be turned into a tool of loot. The soul of MGNREGA, transparency, fairness, and local empowerment, is being crushed. It is time to act decisively and reclaim this scheme for the people it was meant to serve,” he said.