A fresh controversy has erupted in the Amroha district, Uttar Pradesh, after an alleged scam in the MNREGA job card system exposed the misuse of the rural employment scheme. Among those listed as MNREGA workers is cricketer Mohammad Shami’s sister, Shabina, despite her family’s affluent status. The revelation has triggered a probe by the district administration.
Shabina, a resident of Palola village in Joya block, is the daughter-in-law of village head Gule Ayesha. Official records indicate that her family owns a house worth over ?20 lakh, and her son is currently pursuing an MBBS degree. Despite these financial credentials, she and her relatives have reportedly received wages under the scheme meant for economically weaker sections.
Authorities have also unearthed similar irregularities, with job cards fraudulently issued in the names of doctors, engineers, and other well-off individuals. In Palola village alone, 657 job cards were registered, but only 150 remain active. Shabina’s name appears at number 477 on the list, registered on January 4, 2021. Her brother-in-law, Ghaznavi, allegedly worked for about 300 days between 2021 and 2024, receiving approximately ?66,000 in wages.
The village head’s two sons—one studying MBBS and the other law—along with a contractor and his engineer son, were also listed as MNREGA workers. MNREGA, a flagship government scheme, is designed to provide employment opportunities to rural households struggling with financial hardship. The fraudulent inclusion of financially stable individuals in the program has raised serious concerns about corruption and loopholes in the system.
Amroha District Magistrate Nidhi Gupta has taken note of the issue and directed the MNREGA Deputy Commissioner to conduct a detailed investigation. She assured that strict action would be taken against those found guilty, and efforts would be made to recover the misappropriated funds.
This incident has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities in welfare schemes and the urgent need for stricter oversight to prevent their misuse.
The administration has pledged to implement stronger monitoring mechanisms to curb such fraudulent practices in the future.
