Vaishali-based RTI activist Devendra Rai shows the letter. Telegraph picture

Vaishali-based Right To Information (RTI) activist Devendra Rai, who has exposed several irregularities in the implementation of various government welfare schemes in the district, is tired of running from pillar to post seeking security cover.

In the past two years, he has shot off letters to the station house officer of Cheh-rakala police station, the chief minister, the Prime Minister and the President. But all that the RTI activist has got till date is assurances from officials, and nothing else.

Though Rai is originally from Chehrakala in Vaishali district, he left the village fearing attacks and is, at present, staying in Hajipur in a rented accommodation.

“Every time I meet the officials, they pledge to look into the matter. But nothing happens in reality. This is going on since 2010 despite the fact that I am receiving threats on my cellphone. It appears that they (officials) will wake up only when I am killed,” Rai told The Telegraph.

He said his application for an arms license was gathering dust in the office of the Vaishali superintendent of police (SP) for about two years. “There is a fixed rate of bribe to get work done at government offices. I was asked to pay nazrana (gift) for character verification report, which is required to get an arms license,” he added.

Rai’s campaign had some sort of success when the SP, Upendra Prasad Sinha, directed all station house officers in October 2011 to issue receipts of every application submitted by the applicants. “But the reality is no receipt is given to the applicants,” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Sinha could not be contacted for comment.

The 43-year-old rights activist said he had invited the wrath of several block and district-level officials for exposing a scam in disbursement of relief against damage of crops during the 2007-08 floods in Vaishali district. “Biswanath Pathak, a resident of Bisunpur Arra village died about 10 years ago but was provided with compensation against damage of crops,” he said.

Similarly, in the Patepur block of Vaishali, about 4,100 houses were damaged in the 2008-09 floods. “But the compensation money of Rs 35,000 each had been given to about 5,800 beneficiaries as part of Indira Awas Yojna,” he added.

“The irregularities in distribution of job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act are equally alarming. Information sought under RTI made revealed that the cards of 300-500 beneficiaries don’t have mention of their fathers’ names. They have been mentioned as A,B,C,D…,” Rai said.

The activist, who now lives in a two-room rented house at Gandhi Ashram in Hajipur, said he needed security cover as he was receiving threats from various quarters.

Director general of police (DGP) Abhayanand said though he could not recall Rai’s name, he would look into his cause. “It might be possible that he had spoken to me. It is a serious matter. If he meets me, I will certainly look into his complaint,” the DGP said.