Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Feb 17: Adoor B Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, is known for being upright, firm and yet soft-spoken in nature. As he admits, it is not easy being the DC of a place like Dakshina Kannada, but probably everyone would agree that he has done a tremendous job and stood tall despite all the pressure.

In an interview with editor-in-chief of daijiworld.com Walter Nandalike for 'Public Challenge' programme telecast on Daijiworld 24x7 TV channel, A B Ibrahim speaks his heart out on various issues. For the benefit of web readers, here are some excerpts:

You are the first DC to visit Banjarumale DC Katte in 32 years. Where did you draw the inspiration from to visit this palce?

A B Ibrahim: As a DC I have to visit all the places, I did not want to hear people complain that the DC is sitting in the AC room. I needed to know the problems of the people. I have my own style of functioning. Whenever there have been problems in rural places I have visted the spots to try and find solutions.

I too hail from a rural place so I know the problems of such places. Banjarumale is not a barren place, people there are self-employed, the local resources are used very well, and power is also produced there - that is the speciality of the place. There are many problems, and one by one all the problems are being addressed. Not only Banjarumale, I have visited many other rural places and provided solution for their problems. It gives a sense of satisfaction.

Will you increase the minimum charges after the recent three-day strike of auto rickshaw drivers?

A B Ibrahim: Auto rickshaw is a common local mode of transport. It is the collective decision of the DC, the SP and the RTA to decrease or increase the prices, and RTO is a member secretary, who also takes active part in setting the price. Whenever the fuel prices rise we hike the rickshaw fares. We always respond to rickshaw drivers as they are the working class. Recently the prices of fuel came down. About 95% of the autos run on gas and the gas prices have come down by 41%. A 25-kg gas cylinder which was sold at Rs 64 earlier now sells at Rs 36. Petrol prices also have come down drastically.

Even the passenger should get the benefit of the price reduction. Even though the gas prices have come down by 41%, we effected only 20% reduction in the minimum charge (of auto rickshaw), from Rs 25 to Rs 20 and per kilometer rate was reduced form Rs 14 to Rs 13, which is only 7%. If we had reduced the minimum charge by 41%, it would have been Rs 13 and per kilometer would have been Rs 8. This decision was taken by considering the opinions of all the representatives concerned.

There is also the factor of 'dead mileage', where auto rickshaws move without any passengers, particularly when they start from homes. Dead mileage is much greater in big cities like Mumbai, but in Mangaluru, it is very less. If we compare the auto rickshaw charges in Mangaluru to other cites like Hassan and Kodagu, we see that passengers here are paying more than them. The revised fare is scientifically correct and is a win-win situation for all.

But despite the fact that your decision has been appreciated by the public, it is said the district incharge minister has asked you to revise the fares...

A B Ibrahim: Let me say one thing, I respect the working class, I won't take any decision that will make life difficult for them. When they organized the three-day protest, again we had called the RTA meeting, during which everyone agreed to the revised fares. But soon after the meeting, when they went to the field, they started charging the old fares from passengers. I feel there is union rivalry among them which is instigating the auto drivers. They are also being told that the high court has been approached, but this will not help as the court can only issue notice to review the procedure we used to fix the fares.

We are in a dead-lock. The rickshaw drivers do not want to bring down the fares, and I cannot raise the fares as it woud do injustice to passengers. The district incharge minister called a meeting and tried to convince me, and then he tried to convince the rickshaw drivers but they refused. But the district incharge minister never ordered to reduce the fares. Even the SP has said that if the auto drivers feel they have been done injustice, they can give a list of all the expenses they incur including their daily food, and appeal to the RTA.

Many are also spreading rumours that the DC will be transferred and thereby misleading the auto drivers and the public. They are being told that the new DC who comes will revise the fares as they want. All this is an attempt to mislead the innocents.

Still, most of the auto drivers are said to be charging Rs 25...

A B Ibrahim: No, more than 90 percent of the auto drivers feel that the revised fares are reasonable but a few complaints have also been recieved.

We have also started helpline and toll free numbers to register complaints. Public can complain about rude behaviour, over charging, refusal of service or anything related to public transport, be it private or KSRTIC buses or auto rickshaws, by calling the numbers.

While you have reduced auto fares by Rs 5, the reduction in bus fares has been nominal. Why is that?

A B Ibrahim: I want to make one thing clear - we did not really reduce the fares of auto rickshaws or buses. During meetings representatives from various quarters put forward their opinions and we discuss several factors in connection to fares. During the RTA meeting this time, there were lot of arguments between those in favour of hike in fares who contended that prices of food in hotels had not gone down, and those against the hike who felt that the drastic reduction in fuel prices should translate into fares. As there was no concensus, I came up with a new formula, that is to cancel the last year's hike and implement the fares of 2013. Everyone agreed to this, so the bus fares were revised accordingly.

When will the KSRTC city bus service be available in Mangaluru?

A B Ibrahim: As per a special programme of the central government we had to recieve NURM (JNNURM - Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) bus services. We were supposed to get 30 buses for various destinations but due to various reasons, it is still pending, may be due to some changes in the plans of the central government, so as of now we do not have any additional information on it.

What is the status of the new Pumpwell bus stand project?

A B Ibrahim: We Mangloreans have a tendency to think that the surrounding of Nehru Maidan is only Mangaluru. This has to change. We have huge cars and small roads here, it is acontradictory statement but a fact. In order to develop the outskirts of Mangaluru we came up with various palns, and one of the plans was the new Pumpwell bus stand. The Mangalore City Corporation has acquired the land and the plan is set. We will not conduct any more meetings, it is now time for action. The tender has also been called already. The district incharge minister has also given the order to begin the work this year. By end of February the blueprint of the bus stand will be ready by the architect. After that the work will start, and by end of 2015 there should be susbtantial changes seen at Pumpwell. The three-layer bus stand will be a reality soon.

Similarly, we are also determined to start work on the construction of Rang Mandir in the next two-three months, and are also planning to shift DC's office and other government offices to Padil this year.

What is the expected time of completion of Shiradi Ghat work?

A B Ibrahim: The work has already begun and I visited the spot last week. The work on the first stretch of 13 kilometers will be completed within the first week of May, and tender for the second phase has to be approved by the central government, which is expected to be done by this month end. Both the stretches will be completed before the onset of the rainy season and vehicles will start moving.

What is the update on concreting work on Bunts Hostel Road?

A B Ibrahim: The new MCC commissioner is taking much interest in this work. The problem is, whenever a road repair work is undertaken, its not taken up in entirety. There should be a complete solution, which is not happening. The work on Bunts Hostel too is facing the same problem. Even with Hampankatta and Balmatta roads, the same problem persists - though they were concreted five years ago, the work on drains and footpaths there is still incomplete. At Bunts Hostel road, the concreting work is over, but the work on drains has still not begun.

There should be thorough discussion and a complete project report before the start of any project, which is not happening. The same problem is plaguing Town Hall work too.

What is the solution for the inconvenience faced by Mangalureans in availing Aadhaar card?

A B Ibrahim: Aadhaar card process was going on well, but in between some problems started to arise, because of which the process slowed down. Some of the centres had to be shut down. Now there is only one centre, which is on the third floor of the building. The elderly find it difficult to climb, and there are also complaints about long queues and poor service. I visited the place and I have directed the officials to shift to the ground floor and within a week, it will be done. We have only three centres in the district. The state government is going to open more centres, and even machines are also being distributed and within a few days it will be operational. After that most of the problems will be solved.

In your entire career, which was the best place you worked in and what work gave you the most satisfaction?

A B Ibrahim: In our 25 years of service we work in various districts. It is really a challenging task. Between 2006-2009, in just three years I was transfered 13 times. When I was transferred frequently I started to ponder if I was making any mistakes in style of working. When I was the ZP CEO of Kodagu, I was asked by someone not to go for inspections early morning as it is a cold region, and various suggestions were also made that I should 'adjust'. When I was in the Mysore University, there was some injustice being done and we gave a report to the government, and the vice-chancellor was found guilty. But no punishment was meted out to him, instead I was transferred. Nevertheless, I have taken all the problems and obstacles in a positive way.

My most satisfying work was when I was MD in Mysore Lamps. When there was a fear of closure of the factory, salaries were not paid to the workers and tense atmosphere prevailed. I tried my best to provide the best VRS package to the workers, and they were paid all theirs dues. It made me happy that at least something I could provide to the families of 2,500 workers even though it was negative situation. It was the most satisfying moment in my life.

Mysuru corporation was a satisfying experience. Mysuru is a well planned city, it has high tradition and value-based institutions. It is the cultural capital of Karnataka, and various movements were also were born there. I served as Mysuru corporation commisioner for thre years, and we were able to bring about a lot of changes to the development. The CM had great hopes and confidence in me, so I was appointed as DC of DK which is a great challenging task. We have so many issues, and the responsibility here is greater than in other districts. On one side there is the communal struggle, and I being from the minority it is all the more difficult to gain the confidence of the public. On the hand are the industries like MRPL and SEZ and their problems, NHAI and airport works etc. But as I was already familiar with this place, I was able to respond to the people's problems. Every person who comes to us should feel confidence that he is speaking to the representative of the government.

What is your advice for KAS/IAS aspirants?

A B Ibrahim: The most important thing is to try. There is no substitute for hard work. Some have inferiority complex that they have studied in Kannada medium, but language does not matter. Whatever medium you have studied in, everyone has equal opportunity. But one must make up one's mind and apply. There are several services in administration, and once you write a few exams, you will get attuned to it. Contrary to degree courses, here you are competing against one another as your post will be based on the marks you score. If you work hard you will definitely succeed. There are scores of doctors and engineers, but there is only one deputy commissioner in the district, so this is highly respectable, satisfying and enviable post and girls and boys in our district should try for it.

Watch full interview :