In Gujarat, e-literate paanwala googles NREGS, stumbles on Rs 1-crore scam

A newly e-literate village paanwala's obsession with Google has blown the lid off a unique NREGS scam in Porbandar. The motley bunch of beneficiaries include affluent NRIs, doctors, government officials, teachers and well-off farmers — all shown as unemployed village labourers holding NREGS job cards. So far, the money siphoned off comes to nearly Rs 1 crore.

On paper, there are 963 NREGS job cardholders at Kotda village in Kutiyana taluka of Porbandar district. Records show they have been paid over Rs 95 lakh for their 'labour' over the past three years. In reality though, none of them have ever dug wells or built roads in their lives or actually received any money for the same under NREGS or otherwise.

The scam came to light after Aslam Khokhar (37), a Class X dropout and a paan shop owner in Kutiyana learnt how to use computers and searched NREGS on Google. "I was thrilled to find every detail of NREGS work in our area on the website. But I then came across the job card of a friend, who is a government employee.

I searched and found there are doctors, teachers and NRIs I personally know in the village, listed as 'labourers' on the site," said Khokar.

Veja Modedara, an independent councillor at Kutiyana taluka panchayat, and Congress worker like Bhanukant Odedara soon joined hands with Khokhar. The trio conducted door-to-door meetings with villagers named in the website and found they had neither worked on any NREGS site nor received any wages.

Several like Bharat Ganga (23), who has been to Muscat for the past three years, were shocked to learn that they were named as NREGS employees on record and have been even paid for their work. "How can this be? I moved out of India three years ago," Ganga told The Indian Express.

Varu Karsan Uka (38), an official with the Pashcim Gujarat Vij Company Limited for 15 years also holds the job card number GJ-21-005-030-001/726. Even his wife has been also named as a card holding labourer. According to the records, the couple had built roads and dug wells for 60 days and received Rs 6,000 for their work. "How can I possibly get an NREGS job card when I am a state government official ?" said Uka.

Dr Dayaram Babhania (58), a well-known physician in Kutiyana too holds a job card (number GJ-21-005-030-001/526), though he admits never to have lifted a pickaxe in his entire life.

Other like him on the list are Range Forest Officer Jesa Odedara, Forest Guard Arshi Bhattu, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) employees Meru Odedara and Arjan Odedara, teacher Leela Dasa, Ex-serviceman Kunti Rama and NRIs Haja Modha, who have long left the village and settled in Israel. On paper, all are 'labourers' and many have been paid too.

Kutiyana Sub-Inspector I Damor said the police probe will take a while since details of all the 963 accounts need to be verified.

Kutiyana Taluka Development Officer J Gamit said, "Preliminary investigation by the department has revealed that at least 73 cardholders are government employees, professionals or NRIs."

District Development Officer K D Bhatt said: "We will begin a door-to-door survey to find the exact scale of the scam."

Leadership skills

What makes a successful chief information officer? Leaders must have the right leadership skills in place to deliver on heightened expectations, according to Gartner, Inc. and Korn/Ferry.

"Focusing on leadership and people skills - the 'soft' things that many Leaders tend to minimise in their quest to keep up with their day-to-day responsibilities of managing IT - is in fact the biggest determinate of their success, or failure," says Graham Waller, vice president of Gartner Executive Programs.

IT executives who have the best relationships and can earn 'followership', not only with their employees, but more importantly with their business partners within and outside the organisation, tend to make the most effective business technology executives.

In the recently published book 'The CIO Edge Seven Leadership Skills You Need To Drive Results', Graham Waller; George Hallenbeck director, Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting; and Karen Rubenstrunk, formerly with Korn/Ferry's Leader practice, examine the key skills Leaders need and how to develop them.

1. Commit to leadership first and everything else second

Gartner and Korn/Ferry's research reveals that the highest performing CIOs are effective because they embrace the idea that everything they need to accomplish will be achieved through people, by people, and with people.

They don't pay lip service to that idea. They live it. They lead.

2. Lead differently than you think

A high-performing CIO is an incredibly complex and creative thinker.

Yet when the time comes to lead, they don't rely on their superior 'smarts' and analytical skills to come up with the best possible solution.

They act collaboratively.

3. Embrace your softer side

Effective CIOs manage the paradox of gaining more influence by letting go of control and allowing themselves to be vulnerable.

In turn, that vulnerability enables them to create deep, personal connections - connections that provide the ability to inspire people both inside and outside their organisation.

4. Forge the right relationships to drive the right results

This skill may not be surprising.

High performing CIOs spend a greater percentage of their time and energy managing relationships that exist sideways: with internal peers, external suppliers, and customers.

They purposely invest in horizontal relationships which form the foundation to drive extraordinary results.

5. Master communication

The best CIOs know that their colleagues - especially the people who work for them - are always watching.

These executives understand they are always on stage.

They take advantage of that situation by constantly reiterating core messages and values.

Through their focus on clarity, consistency, authenticity, and passion, they make sure their message is not only understood but also felt.

They want to communicate a feeling that compels people to take the right actions.

6. Inspire others

In exchange for a regular paycheck, most people will give an adequate performance.

But they will only give their best work if they believe they are involved in something greater than themselves.

The best CIOs provide a compelling vision that connects people to how their enterprise wins in the marketplace and that their contributions are meaningful and valued.

7. Build people, not systems

By developing people all around them, these CIOs increase their capability and capacity to deliver results.

They also know that leaving behind the next generation of leaders is the best thing they can do for the organisation it will be their lasting legacy.

The three authors warned CIOs that mastering soft skills can never be a replacement for the key management aspects of the job.

It is instead a powerful enabler and an amplifying force that allows individuals to exceed expectations and maximise the value from IT.

"All CIOs must deliver results. What distinguishes the best is how they do it: through people, by people, and with people," Mr Waller said.

Yoga For Daily Practices

Padmavathi Kalyanam