Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 30: The fifteenth ordinary meeting of Kundapur taluk panchayat was held in taluk panchayat auditorium here on Tuesday, January 29.

Member Mahendra Poojary said that medical officer in taluk hospital does not respect elected representatives. “He does not agree to keep dead bodies in the hospital. The medical officer does not come to taluk panchayat meeting even when called,” he blamed.

The medical officer Dr Robert Rebello responded that members are planning to file case of caste abuse and have obstructed his duty. The members objected to his statement. “The medical officer should apologize for his allegation,” they said.

Members Karun Poojary, Vasudev Pai, Jagadish Devadiga, Umesh Shetty and others expressed their anguish. They demanded that the doctor should go out from the meeting else they will go out themselves. Taluk panchayat officer also expressed his regret with regard to the statement of medical officer and asked medical officer to apologise. The doctor apologised.

When the meeting resumed, member Praveen Shetty questioned, who is the president of temple in the government hospital premises? The medical officer said that the medical officer is the president. Praveen Shetty said that as per Hindu religious customs a person of another religion cannot be the president of a temple. Umesh Shetty and Karan Poojary said that dialysis machine does not work in the government hospital. The medical officer said that B R S Company is in charge of its maintenance. “There is another machine in the hospital which cannot be used as there is no permission for its use,” he said.

“Those who can understand know the problem,” he said. The members again said that the medical officer is disrespecting them and urged him leave to which he obliged.

“Those who have worked under employment guarantee scheme are not paid for the last two years by the department of horticulture,” said Umesh Shetty Kalgadde protesting in the well of the house. Jagadish Devadiga said that similar complaints are heard in Kergalu village and joined the protest. Karan Poojary said that RTC is taken from the farmers saying that they will provide manure for coconut trees. Member Poornima also joined the protests urging for solutions for farming. Horticulture department official said that the amount under employment guarantee scheme is already released. President Shyamala Kunder said that the members will get answer for it in next fifteen days. The protesters then went back to their seats.

Surendra Kharvi said that there is no stand for buses. He urged that the royalty from sand mining be used only for development of roads and such other purposes. Member Pushparaj Shetty urged for clarification with regard to auto drivers having a badge.

Member Jagadish Devadiga urged for a solution for biometric system in ration shops. Members said that solar lights installed by taluk panchayat do not light. Jagadish Devadiga said meetings should be held at least once in one and half months. Jyothi Putran and Mahendra Poojary questioned the absence of officials. Members expressed dissatisfaction that agendas discussed in earlier meetings were not fulfilled.

Taluk panchayat president Shyamala Kunder presided over the meeting. Vice president Ram Kishan Hegde, social justice committee presidents Narayana T Gujjadi, Taluk panchayat executive officer Kiran Padnekar were present.