Hi all
Anna Hazare has given more courage and strength to fight against the corruption. Here is an incident of one of our group members fighting boldly against the corruption of Taluk officials at Ambattur, Chennai.
Suyam is run by Uma and her husband Muthuraman. They have also won several International awards for their selfless service to street children. Uma and Muthuraman have been trying to get community certificate from Tahsildar's office, Ambattur for the past five years. Every time, when they go there, the officials would not give proper response.
It is reported that outside the Tahsildar's office, brokers used to collect Rs.2000/- for original SC certificate and Rs.1000/- for bogus SC certificate. Poor and innocent would people would be cheated by the bogus certificates.
Today (29th August 2011), Uma went to Tahsildar's office for getting SC certificate to some students, who had to write NIOS examination. As usual, the officials did not bother about her. As a matter of policy Uma and Muthuram never bribe any Government officials. On many occassions, this has caused lot of problems. Still, braving all the difficulties, they practise 'no bribe' policy and they also teach their students not to give bribe.
Since Uma did not get proper response, she immediately arranged a dharna in front of Tahsildar office with more than one hundred children and their parents sitting on Satyagraha. They also informed few of the media. When the TV cameras arrived, Tahsildar was taken aback and he immediately issued two certificates Uma also reported the matter to the District Collector of Thiruvallur Mr Asish Chatterjee. . Originally, District Collector also did not give proper response. Only after getting the information that the media people have arrived, he started giving proper response.
Interestingly the name of the Tahsildar is 'Mahatma'.!
When I got the information from Suyam, I contacted the District Collector Mr Asish Chatterjee over his mobile. Though, he was little tough with me at the beginning, after my telling him that the matter would be taken up to Chief Minister level, he was polite. Subsequently, he also called me to inform that he would be willing to meet Uma with full details on Tuesday evening at 4 PM. He also spoke to Uma requesting her to meet on Tuesday evening.
From the various sources, we understand that though, lot of corruption takes place at Ambattur Taluk Office, none of the Collectors were able to take action. It is also reported that these Tahsildars and Revenue officials threaten the District Collectors and District Collectors are unable to do anything. Though the Collectors have the knowledge of the corruption, they become silent observers.
Just now, I spoke to one of the senior Tamil journalists. He said, he would take up with the Revenue Minister on Tuesday morning and run a detailed story exposing the corruption.
When Anna Hazare ji was demanding that the corrupt people are to be hanged, I was reluctant to accept his views. After listening to this incident where poor street children that too dalit children are being tortured by these Government officials for non payment of bribe, I started feeling that Anna ji's statement is highly relevant.
I am also endorsing the copy of this mail to the District Collector and also to the leaders of India Against Corruption. It is not sufficient that we talk in all forums about the welfare of SC and ST. The revenue department officials who demand bribe should be prosecuted and put behind the bar. We demand such officials are to be arrested immediately.
On one side, Suyam is trying hard to bring these children from streets (read begging) and provide them free education. On the other side, Tashsildar office mercilessly want to extract money to provide community certificate, even from these street children. .
Now Anna's movement has given us more courage and strength. We also appreciate Uma for her bold initiative of staging a dharna in front of Taluk office with affected children and calling the media to expose these corrupt officials.
We will update our members about the development on Tuesday evening. Let us all get united to fight against the corruption.
Suyam can be reached at suyam.awake07@gmail.com
Srinivasan
Moderator
India Vision and Action 2020
9176650273
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