District Officer Collapses at ‘Public Grievance Meet’ over Upa Lokayukta’s Comments
According to sources, it is learnt that this is the third instance where Sundara Poojary-Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department has collapsed during a meet involving government and judicial representatives. Previously in the past years, he had fainted twice when MLC Ugrappa, chairperson of the expert committee on Prevention of Sexual Violence against Women and Children, had grilled him, once at Zilla Panchayat Venue; and another time at the District Deputy Commissioner’s office over some issues. And today, the same person Sundara Poojary collapsed falling on his knees when Upa Lokayukta-2 Subhash B Adi put forth a few harsh words pertaining to a compensation to be paid to a 61-year-old woman.
Mangaluru: At the Public Grievances Hearing and Redressal Meeting held on Sunday, 28 January at Zilla Panchayat Auditorium, where Subhash B Adi the Upa Lokayukta-2 heard 108 complaints from the people on various issues, and one among them was where Justice Adi took to task using some tough words against deputy director of women and child welfare department Sundara Poojary, over an issue of pension money to be given to a 61-year-old beneficiary, made the officer to faint on his knees at that moment.
It was when 61-year-old Jayanti, a retired Anganwadi worker, during a public grievance inquiry addressing the Upa Lokayukta alleged that she was entitled to receive a compensation to the tune of Rs 1.25 lakh from the government for her service. However, she had so far received a paltry sum of Rs 33,000. This was because the details in her SSLC marks card and the pension identity card did not match.
Sources reveal that while her marks card stated that she was born on December 4, 1956, her pension ID mentioned that she was born on December 4, 1986. On hearing this, Subhash B Adi, Upa Lokayukta 2, grew furious and took Sundara Poojary, deputy director, women and child welfare department, to task. As Adi further grilled Poojary on the “serious lapse” and directed him to either reinstate her in the job – as she had still not attained superannuation according to her pension ID – or settle her remuneration within 10 days, Poojary admitted the error. However, he said he had no power to fix the lapse and had to contact the department concerned in Mumbai.
Angered over this issue, Justice Adi wanted to know as to how the department could consider a 61-year-old woman as a 31-year-old as her physical appearance clearly established her age. As Justice Adi said, “Correct the error in 10 days or pay all her arrears and continue her in service,” a worried and nervous Poojary lost consciousness. He was immediately administered treatment by the medical representative present during the meet and was quickly transported to a private hospital, where he is said to be fine. Justice Adi promised the former Anganwadi worker that she would get what was rightfully hers soon.
Recalling one more past incident happened in the year 2016, when same person Sundara Poojary had collapsed, when not satisfied with the answers given by Poojary during a meeting, MLC V S Ugrappa had taken Poojary to task and sought deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim to take note of it. The committee was in Mangaluru to hold a review on all cases of sexual harassment, atrocities and other attacks on women reported in Dakshina Kannada district. Ugrappa said, “An officer like you (Sundara Poojary) without having proper knowledge should be thrown into Nethravathi River. Mr DC, (DC A B Ibrahim) suspend him if you have the powers.” In fact, Ugrappa had sought details on compensation being paid to victims of sexual assault in the district. Sundara Poojary, deputy director of women and child welfare department, fainted after he faced abusive words by Ugrappa during the meeting. The officer, who fell unconscious, was immediately taken to a private hospital. Later, Ugrappa told reporters that he was not speaking during the meet with prejudice mind against officials.