Farm hands expose housing scam, whistleblowers threatened.

Charul Shah; DNA, AHMEDABAD; Friday, March 11, 2011,

The State Information Commission (SIC) on Tuesday ordered Rajkot police to provide protection to farmer duo - Bhanjibhai Jogel and Bharabhai Ghughal - residents of Dhank village, who had exposed a scam in the village using Right to Information Act (RTI). The action was necessitated as the village sarpanch had threatened them for lodging a complaint against him with the State Vigilance Commission.

The farmer duo had discovered the corruption in two government schemes under Indira Aavas Yojana for widows and Sardar Patel Awas Yojana for landless agricultural labourers and villagers living under the below poverty line in rural areas. They found out that the real beneficiaries of the scheme were left out and the people, who were not entitled for the benefits of the schemes, advantaged the most.

The duo with the help of RTI helpline, run by an NGO named Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), filed an application under the act seeking information about the people who were benefited under the scheme.

After obtaining information under RTI, they filed a complaint with the vigilance department. As the inquiry began to take shape, the village sarpanch threatened the duo and beat them up, which they reported to SIC.

"It was a shocking piece of information which revealed that the people who benefited were actually not entitled for it and the beneficiaries were actually left out. They filed a complaint with the State Vigilance Commission. The commission ordered for an inquiry as well," said Pankti Jog, secretary, MAGP.

The FIR registered with the Bhayavadar police station, Rajkot (Rural), states that when the officials of the vigilance commission inquired in the panchayat office, the sarpanch, Batu Mankad, slapped one of them and threatened to kill them.

"As soon as we were informed about the incident, we (Rajkot rural police) forwarded a letter to the commission to act accordingly to prevent further unfortunate incidents because such whistle blowers need to be protected," affirmed Jog.

The commission after receiving the complaint and application on Tuesday ordered the district superintendent of police, Rajkot (rural) to take appropriate measures and also asked the collector and magistrate to look into the matter.