'Return our votes first': Bihar's male villagers refuse to return dole for women

Ahead of the recently held Bihar election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.

Bihar government officials are in a fix since some male villagers are refusing to return Rs 10,000 that was credited to their bank accounts due to "technical problems”, according to Times of India.

Ahead of the recently held Bihar election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Under this scheme, Rs 10,000 was transferred to the bank accounts of around 1.40 crore women entrepreneurs.

However, officials of Jeevika, a state government initiative for poverty alleviation, said the amount was also credited to accounts of some male villagers. According to Times of India, a Darbhanga Jeevika official said notices had been issued to 14 male villagers. Residents of Ahiyari village in Jale block, however, refused to refund the amount, claiming it was given in exchange for votes.

Nagendra Ram, one of the villagers who received a recovery notice, told TOI that he had never applied for the money. "If the government says the money was credited to our account by mistake, why didn't it send the notice immediately and why has it come after some three months?" he questioned.

According to him, the government was seeking to recover the money after coming to power with their votes. He added that the notice was served more than a month after the NDA returned to power.

"Our votes led to NDA victory, but once in power, the government is exerting pressure on us to recover the money," Ram said. "We gave votes. The accounts are settled," he told TOI on phone.

Ram, who is physically disabled and has five children, said he believed the money was financial assistance similar to that given to women beneficiaries. He said he spent the amount on clothes and household items during Diwali and Chhath.

Another villager, Baliram Sahani, told TOI that he received the money during Diwali and voted for the NDA. "Now when it has won elections, it is asking for money," alleged Sahani, who is also physically disabled and earns around Rs 300 a day as a construction labourer.

According to TOI, even women villagers also expressed anger over the move. "If govt wants our money back, it should return our votes too," said Pramila Devi. The Jeevika official told TOI that seven villagers had returned the money after receiving notices. "The money got transferred by mistake," she said.