Lokayukta raps KGID officials for dereliction of duty

Paying a surprise visit to Karnataka Government Insurance Department office, following complaints that the officers were not performing their tasks properly, Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao, on Friday, took umbrage to the absence of officials from their workplace and their apathetic attitude towards the plight of applicants and their claims.

Giving a dressing down to Director Doddamani, who was found missing when the Lokayukta arrived at the office, but silently and sheepishly sneaking in later, Bhaskar Rao chided him for “taking unsanctioned leave and also lying.” For, when the Deputy Director was ordered to produce the Doddamani’s leave application, the man produced an unsigned application much to the chagrin of the Lokyutka officials. What, however, further roiled the Lokyukta, who was accompanied by Additional Director General of Police H N Sathyanarayana Rao, was applicants were being made to run from pillar to post for years on to get their grievances addressed or claims attended to.

“How much will a poor man suffer?” thundered an irked and angry Lokayukta, when he discovered that as many as 157 claims from Bangalore, which had matured, but whose payment was not processed. The Statewide number of unsettled claims stood at 429.

“There are 4,645 fresh applications and also 40 death claims. Why is there so much delay?” demanded an equally dismayed ADGP Rao.

Succinctly presenting the pathetic picture of the department’s functioning, applicant K C Achappa, a Karnataka State Reserve Police Officer, bemoaned: “In 2006 I noticed that the monthly insurance amount being deducted was being credited to a different policy number.

“Since then I have been visiting this office and requesting the officials to correct it. But, every time they come up with a lame excuse,” he said.

Equally pitiable was the plight of Srinivas R K, who too has been visiting the office since 2011, following the demise of his father, a police officer. “I am frustrated with these officials. I don’t have money to pay bribes to them. The government should allow banks to start a bribe-loan. That will make everybody’s life easy,”he lamented.

Lokayukta opined that making people run around from one desk to another, the paperwork and delay of several years is an indirect way of taking bribes. The director was made to sign an undertaking that all claims will be disposed off in a month.

“I have signed the undertaking and will ensure that all pending work is finished in a month. After that I will personally visit the Lokayukta office and explain everything,” much embrassed Doddamani said.