Dr. Rizwan Rumi
The rural landscape of our country is undergoing a silent transformation—one that holds the promise of prosperity, access and equity. Schemes like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and other initiatives by Block Development Offices are envisioned as lifelines for the villages—constructing roads to orchards and fields, installing street lights, building protective bunds along rivers and empowering the grassroots. These steps, when executed with integrity, bring development right to the doorstep of the marginalized.
But beneath this promising surface lies an unsettling truth. A handful of individuals, often with insider influence, have turned these schemes into personal profit-making ventures. Despite the government’s noble intentions and genuine allotments, lack of accountability has led to misuse and favoritism.
Instead of reaching deserving beneficiaries, the works are distributed among those with connections—”blue-eyed individuals”—those who enjoy unearned privilege. Streetlights, for instance, are installed not where darkness threatens safety, but where recommendations and relations shine brighter than public need.
Shockingly, some government employees themselves are executing works either in their own names or under the names of their relatives, sidelining genuine applicants. The very purpose of such schemes—public convenience and inclusive development—is lost in this manipulation.
It’s high time for concerned authorities to enforce strict monitoring and transparency. Every project must be scrutinized, every allotment evaluated and every outcome measured by its impact on the community—not on personal gain.
Rural development is not just about infrastructure; it’s about justice, empowerment and the soul of a nation. Let us not allow a few to dim the light meant for many.