Middlemen menace leaves MCC red-faced

The MCC has instructed beneficiaries not to submit applications through middlemen.— File photo

Mysore City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath has openly admitted that the corporation is dogged by the middlemen menace.

Stressing that it needs to be countered sternly for proficient governance, he has resolved to crack down on the menace.

He said the so-called middlemen were pressuring officials to extend benefits of government schemes to ineligible people.

Closed circuit television cameras have been installed along the corridors and in the departments inside the corporation office to keep a tab on them.

He said instead of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minorities, economically-weaker sections and persons with disabilities, availing the benefits, middlemen were approaching the corporation on their behalf. The middlemen get into verbal fight with the officials when they are asked for supportive documents to extend the benefits. This has resulted in genuine beneficiaries not getting the benefits, Mr. Betsurmath said in a release.

If beneficiaries encounter any difficulty in getting the benefits from the respective departments, they can meet the concerned department heads to get their grievances sorted, he said.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries have been asked not to submit applications under schemes through the middlemen.