'We have heard about the scheme but have not got even a day's employment till now,' Rakesh, another village resident, said.

Media persons had also reached the village, forcing the official to carry on eating the 'lunch' offered to him till the last bite.

'It is tasty. If the villagers can eat it, why can't we? I think you people (media) should also have a bite,' Singh told the reporters.

He later assured the villagers that works under the NREGS would begin in the district soon and their job cards would not go waste.

Chandauli, a rural district of the state bordering Bihar, is about 325 km from Lucknow and is one of the Maoist affected districts of the state.