The villagers alleged that while people have registered themselves under the Scheme, obtained job cards and even have opened an account in the post office for payment of wages, their quota of 100 days work has already exhausted without their knowledge.
Even the work has been completed and money paid, but the beneficiary has not received a single penny. The fraud has been played upon the job seekers not only in Hosahudya but across the district, they alleged.
Block Youth Congress president H S Narendra, who led the protest alleged that state funds meant for NREGA were being siphoned off by the officials across the board.
Misappropriation
The scheme itself has become a money-making feast and government funds are being misappropriated without any checks and balances. Middlemen are making hay while the real beneficiary is deprived of benefits, he alleged.
The protesters initially refused to budge until the Zilla Panchyat Chief Executive Officer came to spot. The protest was however withdrawn as the Taluk Panchayat executive officer suspended the bill collector of Ghantavaripalli Gram Panchayat.