Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 9: A man who worked for 30 years with Mangaluru City Corporation as a valve man is now under dire straits after losing his job.

K Govinda and his family's condition has worsened as their house is in a dilapidated state as it exists only in tarpaulin without basic facilities. For the last two months Govinda has been suffering without a job and was the victim of MCC administration which dragged him to pathetic state. Govinda lives with his wife and a daughter at Akasha Bhavana Mullakad.

Speaking to daijiworld Govinda said, "I have been working for the past 30 years as valve man in different wards of Mangaluru. I have been taken out from work two months ago without any reason nor did they give me any relieving letter to that effect. I have been working sincerely for the past 30 years without any complaints. A corporator alleged that complaint had been received against me. After I lost my job it’s been difficult for me to lead my daily life and even for food we are struggling. We don’t have any kind of facilities like gas connection and recently we got an electricity connection."

He said, "A corporator was harassing me saying that I don’t work and that I am not punctual. I denied all the allegations made against me as I worked sincerely in the last 30 years. All of a sudden I have been removed from work and I have been replaced by another person. I was helpless with my work but I was happy that I could do something for my house. Even we faced a land issue due to our family and for health reasons my daughter cannot go to work. So far no people's representative has done anything to help me out. Commissioner has also assured to help me but no response is forthcoming. During elections they came to our house and looked at the condition of our house and never returned.  I just need a job for a daily living," said Govinda.

His daughter Prajna said, "MLA Bharath Y Shetty had come to our house four years ago and looked at our situation, after that he has never turned back. I cannot work for a long period of time, as I have health issues like leg problem, thyroid. I suffer from appendicitis. Doctor have suggested an operation, but I denied getting operated because of our financial condition. I thought my dad will be my support for my health condition but now he has lost his job. I had sinus problem as well due to lot of tension. Let corporator, MLA, Engineer come to our house and look at our situation."

Planned to commit suicide

Prajna also said, "our situation had worsened that one night myself along with my parents had decided to commit suicide as if we die it will be a relief for everyone. I don’t have peace of mind in this situation. They allege that my father is alcoholic. If he had been an alcoholic then I would never have gone to school or college. All my salary expenses was going for medicine, I had to use my PF advance for my medicine."

Prasanna Ravi said, "I have known Govinda for the past four years. He is a sincere employee for the past several years. He has worked with corporator Ranjini Kotian and Shashidhar Hegde but both of them were least bothered. If the representative fails to provide job to Govinda then we will make him sit in the MCC step and protest. What these representatives have gained by terminating him from his job. No written complaint has been lodged against Govinda so far. He is not an alcoholic. People are unaware about the condition of his house that he is living in. His house does not have a gas connection. So far corporator, engineer have never visited his house."