Govt takes ministers’ wives by surprise, appoints them on population panel

As expected, all of them are clueless about the nature of work they are supposed to undertake on the council. “I am yet to get an official communication from the government,” said Vaishali Deshmukh, wife of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. She has been appointed as chairperson of the council. She told The Indian Express she would have a plan on the issue only after being apprised of her assignment from the department concerned.

All of them except Rajlakshmi Khanvilkar and Lalita Gaikwad, wife of Minister of State for Health Eknath Gaikwad, have little experience of social activities. Khanvilkar has been organising health camps and campaigning against child marriage in remote places of Kolhapur since years besides participating in her husband’s election campaigns. Gaikwad is with the Malaria Eradication Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The Indian Express asked them if they knew about their appointment on the council, if they had ever participated in social activities and what their plans as members of the council are.

Vaishali Deshmukh said, “I came to know about it only a couple of days ago, probably after reading the newspaper. But there is no communication from the government. I have not decided anything as I have never worked on such committees. Except for accompanying my husband to various programmes and functions, I hardly get involved in social activities”.

Shailaja Patil, wife of state Finance Minister Jayant Patil refused to take telephone calls for three consecutive days. Her staff offered a variety of excuses. Her husband told The Indian Express: “How can she speak to you if she doesn’t know what committee she has been appointed to.”

Whereas Meena Bhujbal, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, said, “Yes, Mr Bhujbal told me yesterday. I have not decided what to do since I hardly go out. I am a housewife and prefer to look after the home as my husband is busy with his political life.”

Hemlata Pichad, wife of Tribal Development Minister Madhukar Pichad said, “I had no idea about it. A reporter told me yesterday. Although I have never worked on such a committee, I participate in the social activities at Akola (Pichad’s constituency in Ahmednagar district). I have not planned anything for working on the council. I will have to talk to saheb (Pichad) before deciding anything.

Shakuntala Awle, wife of Social Welfare Minister Jaywant Awle said, “I don’t know. In fact, I have to look after our home here in Ichalkaranji and hardly go to Mumbai. I will have to speak to Awlesaheb before deciding whether to join the council or not”.

Suman Patil, wife of Rural Development Minister R R Patil, “No, I have not heard of any such committee. I participated in my husband’s election campaign. Now if the government has nominated me on some committee, I will have to talk to him (Patil) for working in it.”

Rajlakshmi Khanvilkar, wife of Health and Family Welfare Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar said, “Nobody told me about this. I have been working in the social field for several years and organising medical check-up camps for women in remote areas of Kolhapur. I have not planned anything for the committee but will think about it after I get the details from the department concerned.”

Lalita Gaikwad, wife of Minister of State for Health Eknath Gaikwad said, “I don’t know. Our operator told me now when you called on phone. Why have they appointed this committee? You see, I work in the Malaria Eradication and Control Department of the BMC. My field is not different from that of the council. I am looking forward to working on it”.

As per a Government Resolution issued on June 29, the 16-member council has been formed to implement the state’s new population policy. To be headed by Vaishali Deshmukh, it includes the wives of seven other ministers in the Democratic Front government.

Officers of the department concerned could not explain why the wives of the ministers have been roped into the population-control drive. The committee is yet to hold its first meeting.