Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Aug 7: At its general session held here on Wednesday August 6, the zilla panchayat took a decision to investigate the role of the department of public instruction relating to the scandal concerning sexual harassment of students hy the headmaster of Shivapura government high school, Venkataramana Kalkura. The members felt that the department was either callous or indiscreet in failing to take prompt action against Kalkura after complaints and reports were received against him long back.
Zilla panchayat member, Manjunath Poojary, raised the topic at the meeting chaired by president, Uday Kotian. Poojary said that several students and their parents had complained about the misbehavior of this teacher, and based on the complaints, Karkala block education officer had sent a report to the department of public instruction about six months back. He complained that the department sat on the report without caring to initiate disciplinary action against the erring teacher.
He also pointed out that the case was hushed up even after a police complaint was filed, and efforts were made to bury the incident. He wanted the zilla panchayat to conduct a thorough probe into the reasons for the deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) delaying action against the headmaster concerned, and also if any unseen hands had played behind the department's inertia in acting upon the report. He put the blame for the recent incident entirely upon the negligence shown by the education department in shying away from taking action against the teacher.
"The department's attitude in putting off any action even after receiving incriminating report against the headmaster has indirectly acted as encouragement for the said headmaster to repeat his crimes. As such, the deputy director of public instruction should be subjected to investigation," demanded ZP member, Anant Movady.
The president, responding to the demand, promised that inquiry will be held about the delay on the part of the DDPI in taking action against the headmaster even after receiving complaints and adverse report. He also added that the probe will also cover reasons and persons which thwarted the department from taking prompt action.
Zilla panchayat chief executive officer, M Kanagavalli, said that a report will be sought from the official, and inquiry as instructed would be conducted.
The meeting stoutly resisted the decision of the state rural development minister to take away the right of drafting action plan under 13th finance plan from the zilla panchayat and entrusting the same to a workforce being created under the leadership of MLAs. Speaking on the issue, Anant Movady predicted that this will shake the very relevance of zilla panchayat's existence. He said that this decision should never be accepted, and if necessary, legal route should be resorted to fight it tooth and nail.
Zilla panchayat members, Katapady Shankar Poojary, Anant Movady etc urged for conducting survey about open tube wells in the district and stone quarries, as deputy commissioner's instructions to close them within three months have not been complied with. The president warned that officials concerned will be held responsible if the owners do not fill the open stone quarries which endanger lives of people. The official of the mines and geology department said that in case of failure of owners to follow the instructions even after serving of two notices, first information reports would be filed. /the president asked the official to furnish details of FIRs filed in the next meeting. He also said that there are 147 sand transporters registered in CRZ area, and those who do not have permits will face action.
The zilla panchayat president said that it is proposed to cover all the offices under the zilla panchayat with closed circuit TV cameras, as it will help in maintaining transparency of operations, and keep tab on the punctuality aspect of employees.
Zilla panchayat standing committee chairman, Arunkumar Padoor, deputy secretary, Pranesh Rao, chief project officer, Vijayakumar Shetty, and others were present.