How do the authorities behave once the people’s representatives are out of power? The name plates that have been discarded outside a granite etching shop in the city provides a living example.

A small shop near Yarrakaluve in Bagepalli is where names are etched on granite slabs. In front of the shop lie many granite slabs - intended for programmes that were to be inaugurated by former legislators or ministers.

These slabs have been thrown away beside the street.

When these plates were made, G V Sriramareddy was the legislator of the constituency. Sriramareddy was known to be a terror among official circles. Which is why they had sped up the projects, ready to be inaugurated by the legislator.

As soon as the Assembly was dissolved, these works have been stopped, and the plates discarded.

The owner of the shop has his own problems. “I have been working on a coolie basis. I bring the granite slabs from Bangalore and work on the etching all day. I etch the names that have been given to me by the officials. I have not been given even the labour charges for etching these slabs, which I worked on at least three months ago,” he says, indicating some slabs that are nearly five years old.

Beside his shop lies a huge pile of stones belonging to the new building of the Somenahalli Gram Panchayat, the Joolapalya Mini Water Supply Project, and other projects.

It remains to be seen whether the authorities collect these slabs and ensure that a poor man gets his wages.