Corruption Allegation Surfaces During Minister's Public Hearing; ₹50,000 Bribe Allegedly Demanded for Releasing SC-ST Assistance Amount
Patna: A serious case of alleged corruption came to light during the public hearing conducted by Bihar Government's Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Minister Lakhindra Paswan on Saturday, leaving officials and people present at the venue shocked. A resident of Sitamarhi alleged before the minister that he was being asked to pay a bribe of ₹50,000 in exchange for the release of financial assistance under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Taking the complaint seriously, Minister Lakhindra Paswan immediately decided to verify the matter. He asked the complainant to call the concerned data entry operator in front of him so that the truth could be established.
During the phone conversation, the data entry operator allegedly repeated the demand for ₹50,000. After hearing the conversation, officials and other people present at the public hearing were left surprised.
Bribe Demand Allegation Raised During Public Hearing
According to information, Kamlesh Paswan, a resident of Sitamarhi, approached Minister Lakhindra Paswan with his complaint. He alleged that he had been trying for a long time to receive financial assistance under the SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, but he was being harassed at the office level.
The complainant claimed that he was asked to pay ₹50,000 to complete the process and release the assistance amount. He said that despite facing financial difficulties, he was pressured to arrange such a large amount, which caused him significant trouble.
He presented his complaint before the minister and requested immediate action in the matter.
Minister Takes Immediate Cognizance
Minister Lakhindra Paswan took the complaint seriously and decided to verify the facts immediately. He asked the complainant to contact the person against whom the allegation was made while the minister and officials were present.
Following the minister's instructions, Kamlesh Paswan called the concerned data entry operator. During the conversation, the operator allegedly demanded ₹50,000 once again.
The conversation created concern among officials present at the public hearing. The minister treated the matter as serious and directed departmental officials to initiate necessary action.
Financial Assistance Provided Under SC-ST Act
Under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, victims are provided financial assistance by the government. The objective of this scheme is to provide immediate relief and economic support to people affected by atrocities.
The assistance amount is provided to eligible beneficiaries through a prescribed government process, usually through direct transfer mechanisms. Several monitoring systems are in place to maintain transparency in the implementation of the scheme.
Therefore, any demand for illegal payment by officials or employees for providing benefits under the scheme is considered a serious irregularity.
Strict Action Against Corruption
During the public hearing, Minister Lakhindra Paswan indicated that corruption at any level would not be tolerated. He said that government schemes must reach eligible beneficiaries directly and no illegal demand or obstacle would be accepted.
He instructed officials to conduct a fair investigation into complaints and take appropriate action against anyone found guilty.
Government's Priority to Help Beneficiaries
The minister said that the government is running several welfare schemes for the development and support of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. The aim of these schemes is to provide assistance to people who genuinely need support.
He stated that if any beneficiary has to pay a bribe to receive government benefits, it is a matter of serious concern. Strict action against such practices is necessary to prevent harassment of citizens in the future.
Public Hearings Helping People Raise Issues Directly
Public hearings are regularly organized by various government departments, allowing citizens to directly present their problems before ministers and officials.
The purpose of these hearings is to establish direct communication between the administration and the public. Several issues that may otherwise remain unnoticed often come to light through such platforms.
The alleged bribe demand case revealed during Saturday's hearing is also an example of how direct public interaction can help identify administrative problems.
Further Investigation Awaited
Following the complaint, an investigation into the allegations against the data entry operator and the entire matter is expected to begin. The department will examine whether the allegations are correct and identify those involved in the case.
If the investigation confirms the demand for a bribe, strict action may be taken against the person responsible.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of transparency in the implementation of government welfare schemes and the challenge of preventing corruption at the grassroots level. The government has repeatedly stated that benefits of welfare schemes should reach eligible people without any difficulty. Now, all eyes are on the action taken in this case.
