The coronavirus pandemic saw a huge amount of relief being given out to the grassroots level people who suffered because of the lockdown that was going on across the country. However, it is quite disconcerting to know that during this time there were also those who took advantage of their position and swindled relief materials.
According to a report published in this daily, the government has suspended at least 205 elected representatives in the local government for their irregularities in the distribution of relief materials among the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is laudable in the sense that this punitive action shows the zero tolerance of the government and that all who are connected with corruption shall face justice.
This punitive action shows the zero tolerance
of the government and that all who are connected
with corruption shall face ustice
It is disconcerting in the sense that 72 of the suspended were UP chairmen while the rest were members and others. One can only wonder how these unscrupulous people had the gall to commit such crimes that snatched food from the mouths of their own countrymen. This is a very heinous crime to say the least and demands added punishment other than just suspension.
The report also elaborates that some local representatives, in unholy nexus with a section of dishonest people got involved in corruption in the distribution of the government relief materials. They misappropriated relief goods at different places of the country.
We hope that a harsher punishment will be taken for embezzling government funds, because swindling relief is nothing less than embezzlement. We applaud the notice issued by the ministry against the alleged representatives asking them to show cause as to why action would not be taken against them. We believe a strong handed action would deter any recurrence of such incidents in the future.
