The Hindu : Video grab gives the lie to officials' rosy picture

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 04, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Video grab gives the lie to officials' rosy picture

By Our Staff Correspondent

HOSPET (BELLARY DT.) MARCH 3. The Lokayukta, N.Venkatachala, who visited the girls' hostel run by the Social Welfare Department here on Sunday, was greeted by a colourful rangoli.

The schoolchildren living in the hostel told him that they were satisfied with its functioning.

Unfortuntely, it was found out that the girls were coached to tell him so. Narrating their grievances to presspersons a few minutes later, they said the officials had instructed them to tell the Lokayukta that all was fine in the hostel. The last time they got a new bedspread was three months ago. But coming to know about the visit of the Lokayukta, the officials gave them new bedspreads on Saturday. They complained of harassment by the warden and the cook. A television cameraman showed Mr. Justice Venkatachala the record of what the girls had said. He took strong note of it, and warned the officials of action if things were not set right in the hostel.

It was found that the district-level officer who is in charge of the hostel had no control over his subordinates. The Lokayukta instructed him to redress the grievances of the girls, and see that his subordinates discharged their duties properly before he paid a surprise visit again.

Mr. Justice Venkatachala visited some of the government institutions to find out whether the assurances given to him during his last visit a month ago on improving their functioning were implemented or not.

At the government hospital, maintenance of cleanliness had improved, but the patients complained about the improper supply of medicines, and inefficiency of the doctors and other staff.

On inspecting the drugstore, the Lokayukta found out that 17 bottles of medicine, each priced at Rs. 120, were missing. This was entered in the stock register as misuse of government-supplied medicine.

He summoned the members of the staff and warned them of stern action against inefficiency. He expressed anguish at some senior doctors for not attending to their work during duty hours.

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