Daijiworld Media Network - Raichur (SP)
Raichur, Mar 25: In an incident which happened on the evening of Thursday March 23, chief executive officer (CEO) of the zilla panchayat (ZP) here, Kurma Rao, was carried on their shoulders by the villagers during his visit to the drinking water purification plant. The incident occurred in Atkur village in the taluk, and the CEO was carried in that fashion to ensure that his feet did not get soiled.
The said village has been facing acute drinking water shortage problem. The villagers wanted the water purification plant located on the route through which the drinking water pipeline passes, to be repaired. At the insistence of ZP member, Keshava Reddy, Kurma Rao visited the spot with zilla panchayat president, Adimani Veeralakshmi.
When walking towards the plant, the CEO had walked for about one and half km when he came across a stretch through which water was flowing on account of water seeping from paddy fields on both the sides and the drains of the village. While others including the ZP president continued to walk in flowing water, several dithered from walking in dirty water. Kurma Rao also was hesitant to walk in the muddy water, saying that he would view the plant from the spot where he was standing. The villagers insisted on him to come to the plant, and two youngsters lifted him on their shoulders. He was brought back in similar fashion after inspecting the purification plant.
The fact that the CEO agreed to accept the villagers offer of carrying him on their shoulders has given rise to controversy. Rao has been insisting that he had not sought to be carried but the villagers insisted on carrying him without allowing him to walk in the water. Keshava Reddy said he came to know only later that the CEO was physically carried by villagers.
The issue of an officer being carried by villagers on their shoulders was raised at the assembly session on Friday March 24 by JD(S) MLA from Lingasugur, Manappa Vajjal. Vajjal said the officer's behaviour reeks of arrogance and hence demanded his immediate suspension. When law minister, T B Jayachandra, said that he would get report from the deputy commissioner and reply to the issue on Monday, JD(S) members criticized him and accused him of coming to the aid of erring officer. Opposition leader, Jagadish Shettar, too asked to get report from the concerned immediately and teach a lesson to officers like Kurma Rao who treat farmers like their stooges.
The assembly speaker acceded to these views and felt that the government should immediately get a report on this inhuman behaviour of IAS officer and take disciplinary action against him. Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, agreed to this suggestion.