JOIN US'Don't demand water, we've paid you to vote'
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Kumar had a bitter experience of truth and was shocked when a homemaker Mutthu Lakshmi of Palanimedu of Kollegal taluk revealed what the Grama Panchayat representatives told the villagers when they demanded water.
“You have no right to ask for water as we have paid you people Rs 100 per vote. You have not cast your vote for free,” is what she told the minister.
She continued to make the minister understand problems faced by villagers for water, “bore wells have also dried up and there is no supply of water for almost more than a month.”
Problems
The minister could only convince her and other women who protested against his team with empty pots and assure them that the team had visited their place to understand the seriousness of drought situations and its problems.
Ministers Suresh Kumar, S A Ravindranath, B N Bacchegowda and R Ashok who had arrived to study drought conditions felt the intensity of the drinking water problem experienced by villagers.
Officials of Grama Panchayat had arranged for welcome of team in front of Grama Panchayat office of Kaudalli.
Closed offices
Annoyed villagers who had gathered said, ‘when we have problems to explain, no one including Grama Panchayat secretary, Panchayat development and nodal officials open the door of office. It is just because ministers are arriving the office is open.’
When the ministers were ready to return saying, “report would be submitted to government,” women protestors said, “our problems are not heard though there is no drinking water since almost three months.” Ministers told them that the problem would be rectified within another two days.
Minister Suresh Kumar spoke to mediapersons and said, “the state government is ready to grant excess funds for management of droughts in taluks and we have not depended on Centre for the funds. Employments will be provided in rural areas.”