Jacob Cherian - All Headline News Contributor

Lucknow, India (AHN)--Dozens of villagers in Lalitpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh are withdrawing their applications for work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme after rumors that they will be sent to "Iraq and Iran" for work.

This was further aggravated when villagers began to spread the news that the agency for rural employment is backing the Bush government.

The district administration is working hard to convince villagers to stay in the employment program. It published a brochure saying, "It has been learnt that some unwarranted and anti-social elements are spreading rumors among the people about the scheme. Don't listen to them as no laborer will be sent outside their respective blocks."