DDPI fails to score; gets 1.5/10

Minority Commission Chairman rebukes education department for laxity

Appalled by the given facts that did not corroborate with the reality, State Minority Commission Chairman Anwar Manappadi evaluated Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI) Nagendrakumar awarding the officer ‘1.5 marks out of 10’.

Visibly upset after the explanations given by the officer on various issues, Manappady hollered at the officer for poor execution of his job.

Answering a query on the distribution of learning materials to the schools for minorities, the DDPI said that the department was yet to dispatch the articles, only to face the wrath of the visiting chairman. What irked him (Chairman) was the delay in acting on the order, when the academic year was coming to an end.

Moreover, what turned out to worse for the officer was his assertion that he had conducted an awareness programme for religious heads.

The chairman asked the representatives of a particular community about the officer’s version, only to receive negative replies.

Unfazed, the DDPI showed the chairman the photographs of the particular programme to substantiate his stand, only to receive the charge. “It’s nothing but a felicitation programme, not what was intended to be done”, the chairman parried in support of others.

After learning that most of the students studying in Urdu Schools in the district opt for either Kannada or English medium after passing out from seventh standard, the chairman instructed the DDPI to organise parent-teacher meeting to check the diversion.

Kits sold

The chairman was also unhappy with the functioning of the health department that had been sitting on the complaints on ‘Madilu Kit’ issued to postpartum mothers belonging to the minority communities free of cost.

This follows a media report stating that about 60 such kits were sold on the footpath off Sayyaji Rao Road outside K R Hospital recently. Recalling the report, the chairman said he rushed to the very spot, but in vain.

However, he sought a reply on the shocking issue from in-charge District Health Officer (DHO) Dr D S Uma. The officer attributed it to the women (mothers), only to be rebuked by the chairman. Further, the chairman said that he has received seven complaints against the office of Health and Family Welfare here.

“It is alleged that the patients have to grease the palms of the doctors even for availing tincture or will be referred to other hospitals, ` 2,000 to ` 3,000 for surgeries, to issue certificates for disabled persons, and also medicines sending the patients to medical stores”, said the chairman referring to a few of the complaints he had been petitioned with. He asked the officer to give the names of those doctors who have been accused of such allegations.

The commission also reviewed the progress related to minorities from the representatives of Industries, Woman and Child Welfare and other departments.

Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta, secretary of the commission Atiq Ahmed, members Danny D’Souza, Peer Khan and Padma Jain, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer G Satyavathi and others were present.