File picture of BBMP Yelahanka Zone Joint Commissioner Ashok (accused of harassing officials) along with Medical officer Health Dr. Naveenkumar M (complainant) is also seen.
Duo write to civic chief, ask to be reassigned to any other zone
BENGALURU:
In the wake of Mysuru government doctor Dr Nagendra’s suicide, allegedly due to harassment, 2 doctors in Bengaluru have filed a harassment complaint against BBMP’s Yelahanka zone Joint Commissioner Ashok. A copy of the complaint has been submitted to BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad’s office.
The duo — Dr Naveenkumar M, Medical Officer Of Health (Yelahanka zone) since the last 2 years and Dr Savita SK, working as Health Officer (Yelahanka zone) — have asked to be relieved from duty in the zone as they are not able to cope with the ‘workload harassment’. A copy of the complaint is with TheBengaluruLive.
The complaint reads: “Due to mental torture and harassment from Joint Commissioner, Dr Naveenkumar M, working as Medical officer Of Health since 2 years and Dr Savita SK, working as Health Officer (Yelahanka zone) since 8 months, bring the following facts with humble submission to your kind self. It has been very difficult to work under the very abusive Joint Commissioner at Yelahanka Zone, who without any rhyme or reason has been abusing and yelling at us, degrading and humiliating us. Unwarranted notices are given to us and in open meetings, in front of other departmental staff, we are yelled at and abused in vulgar and foul language.
‘Foul language’
“We are public health specialists, who have put in 20 years of service and have worked hard, with utmost discipline and integrity. Now if it is a question of self-respect of any officer in the government, especially a woman officer, the KCSR rules do not permit any officer to humiliate another in front of subordinate staff without any reasons. He has been abusing us with vulgar and foul words (unprintable words) in open meetings in front of other officers.
“During this pandemic, without giving any scope for complaints, we have worked day and night in Yelahanka Zone, and as public health specialists we have deep regard and respect for the work we do in the department and have been working diligently with sincerity and honesty. The results of Yelahanka Zone (show),viz, setting of a command centre, testing methodologies, etc. But it is with great pain and agony that we submit on record that it has been very difficult to work peacefully in this zone. Despite doing such hard work without any complaints from the public or the local leaders of this zone, we are tortured mentally and tormented. We request your kind self to relieve us of our duties in Yelahanka Zone. We do not wish to continue working under an officer who has scant regard for the head of the department and doctors per se.
“We have been working very hard, sometimes till 10 pm at night. We have no issues to work so late and so hard… but we want a peaceful harmonious environment at work. We want to quit this zone and are willing to work in any other zone with non-abusive officers. We request your kind self to relieve us from this zone. We request your kind self to accept our requisition and oblige.”
When TheBengaluruLive sought the reaction of BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad to the doctors’ letter, he confirmed that his office had received the complaint on August 20, but did not make any comments on the issues raised in their complaint.
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