Bihar BDOs: stealing homes! Patna: according to a recent report, out of 534 block development officers posted across Bihar, 181 or one-third are currently facing probe — mostly for alleged misuse and misappropriation of fund meant for the Indira Awas Yojana. In fact, 58 BDOs face corruption charges for their dubious role in the implementation of IAY. This was revealed in an RTI query by Buxur resident Shiv Prakash Rai, who had asked for a list of accused BDOs with status of cases against them. The Rural Development Department gave the information on November 6 only after the intervention... 

Shiv Prakash, farmer from Buxar uses RTI to expose scams: Bihar has a hero!   Patna: according to a recent press report, Bihar now has its own RTI hero, a figure to emulate! Since 2005, Shiv Prakash a farmer made use of the very handy RTI provisions to unearth information for the benefit of farmers in Sarinja village in Buxar district. Fearless Prakash blew the whistle on a tubewell scam despite threats to his well-being. As is known, the Centre offers a 35% subsidy to poor farmers for the purchase of hand pumps and installation of tube wells. Through RTI documents, Prakash found huge...