Safai Karmachari official complains of ‘disregard’

Condemns attitude of Hassan district administration

S. Mareppa, chairman of the Safai Karmachari Development Corporation, on Friday alleged that the Hassan administration showed ‘disregard’ to him during his visit to the district. He said he had to be in the middle of a tense situation during his visit to a locality of pourakarmikas as there was no police escort.

“There was a tense situation during my visit. I could come out safe, pacifying both the groups, only because I have been with the people’s movement for decades”, he told presspersons later in the day.

He visited Nirmala Nagar and Chikkanala localities in the morning, accompanied by officers of the Hassan City Municipal Council. The government had constructed a community hall named after Jagjivan Ram for the benefit of municipal workers in the locality. However, a section of other communities living nearby wanted the hall handed over to them to hold programmes. During Mr. Mareppa’s visit, the two groups entered into a heated argument over the issue. “It was a tough situation to handle. For the first time, I felt the need of police. However, I am told the police were not aware of my visit. The Deputy Commissioner’s office had not informed the police. Somehow I pacified both the groups and came back”, he said.

Meeting

A meeting with district-level officers was scheduled at 11 a.m. but only a few officers from urban local bodies and the Social Welfare Department were present at that time. A few minutes later Zilla Panchayat CEO K.M. Janaki arrived. Additional Deputy Commissioner B.R. Poornima entered the hall half-an-hour after the meeting began. Mr. Mareppa said, “Though my tour plan was sent to the district well in advance the officers were not informed. District Officer of Ambedkar Development Corporation was not seen at the meeting. His role in implementing the schemes of our corporation is significant. What meeting can be conducted if he is not participating?”

Mr. Mareppa said “I took charge as the chairman on August 24 this year. So far I have travelled to seven districts and this was my eighth district visit, but deeply disappointed by the officers’ approach. I don’t know why they did so.”