The video of a teen boy, begging for bribe demanded by corrupt officer in Tamil Nadu, went viral.
Highlights
- 15-year-old's father, a farmer, died last year
- Teen begged for bribe demanded by corrupt officer
- Many in same village reveal their experience with same officer
The video of a teen boy, begging on the streets of his village in Tamil Nadu, went viral. K Ajit Kumar, needed to raise Rs 3,000, the amount demanded by a local official as a bribe, so that Ajit's family could get the money it is entitled to as compensation for the death of his father, a farmer.
The outing of the corruption by Ajit on Saturday has led to the removal of the officer, and the money due to his family, Rs 12,500, was transferred to their account today.
He says "He had to be exposed. I was so pained that he asks for a bribe from everyone," said Ajit. He claims that his mother had already paid a kickback of Rs 3,000 when she first applied for the money that a government scheme promises to the families of farmers who die.
The outing of the corruption by Ajit on Saturday has led to the removal of the officer
Ajit's father died of kidney failure in February last year, it took his family 15 months to reach the head of the line of applicants waiting to get their due.
In the village of Ulundurpet, 250 kms from the capital of Chennai, Ajit's story resonates in a series of homes.
K Babu, 45 and physically challenged, is entitled to a monthly government stipend of a thousand rupees - money he has never claimed because the same official who handled Ajit's case allegedly asked for a bribe.
"First, he asked for Rs 10,000. Then, he said 'if you pay at least 3,000 you will get the money.'"
S Lakshmi and her old diabetic husband who live with their grandson say they are desperate to get their home registered in their name, but "He demanded five thousand rupees. We just came back. What can poor people like us do?"
Many in same village reveal their experience with same officer
M. Kunnathoor, the official who so many villagers speak of has, to his seniors, rejected the accusations.
M Senthamarai, the Revenue Divisional Officer, said that Ajit allegedly wanted the cheque for his family to be made out to him.
"We only give cheques in the name of the applicant, the mother in this case. And her bank details weren't available," the official said.
Other officers said that welfare schemes can be applied for online, but villagers said that even those applications must be backed by forms that need the signature of officials - enter, the demand for bribes.
"This system has to change, this defeats the very purpose of e-governance," said Thambi Durai, a relative.