Top medical officer claims PCMC corporators are blackmailing him
In civic corridors,kickbacks,commissions and bribes have always been spoken about in hushed tones
4 min read
In civic corridors,kickbacks,commissions and bribes have always been spoken about in hushed tones. But now they are in public domain,what with a bid to strike a shady deal allegedly by some PCMC corporators being exposed on Facebook.
The blackmailing tactics have allegedly been employed against a top medical officer of PCMC from whom some corporators allegedly demand money for getting confirmed as the Medical Officer of Health (MOH). In the event of him not paying up,the officer did not get confirmation for the post,which he was apparently due for.
On his Facebook account,Dr Anil Roy,who is the acting MOH,blasted some corporators,spelling out in clear terms that he would not give into the tactics employed by them. Dr Roy was apparently asked to pay Rs 3 lakh.
Dr Roy confirmed that he had spoken out against some corporators,but refused to name those who demanded money from him. In a fit of anger,I poured my heart out on my Facebook account. In hindsight,I think I shouldnt have done that because not all corporators are like that; many understand my sentiment and even stood up for me in the civic meetings, he said.
Dr Roy,however,said he apologised if his outburst hurt corporators who have nothing to do with the matter. He said he has made things clear to the civic chief.
Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said he would not take action against Dr Roy since the outburst was his personal opinion,which he expressed on the social media. If he would take action against corporators who allegedly resorted to blackmailing Dr Roy,the civic chief said,Who will bell the cat ? However,he said may inquire into the matter as civic activists are demanding it.
Dr Roy took to Facebook after the husband of a corporator apparently approached him,demanding money if he wanted confirmation as the MOH. Civic officials said when Dr Roy refused,the corporators in the Law Committee refused to take a decision on confirming him in the post.
Dr Roys reaction triggered angry reactions from a section of corporators,especially in the standing committee meeting held earlier this week. Dr Roy had to walk out of the meeting after corporators,who started criticising him,asked him to leave the meeting hall. He looks after eight big hospitals,clinics,dispensaries,medical purchases and implementation of health policies of the civic body.
Senior civic officials said this was the first time in the history of PCMC that an officer has spoken out against bribes being taken for getting a job or confirmation. For every promotion or getting a job,money is demanded from officers or aspirants. The money that some corporators make can only be imagined. When will this stop? asked an officer.
Demanding protection for Dr Roy,Manav Kamble,convenor of Nagari Haqq Suraksha Samiti,said: Since now it has become public that PCMC corporators demand money or resort to blackmailing tactics,the civic chief should investigate the matter thoroughly. This will help in effectively curbing the practice that has been going on for years in PCMC.
Maurti Bhapkar,convenor of Aam Aadmi Party,said: PCMC should hand over the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Dr Roy should be made a witness. The Law Committee should be divested of its powers to give promotion to officers. A committee of Municipal Commissioner or Additional Municipal Commissioner should decide such matters, he said.
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