Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, which is the most populated city is now facing a novel problem that district administration officials are misbehaving with the senior state government doctors. The city is already under the stress of the second wave of COVID-19 cases and related deaths.

The two senior government doctors – Dr Purnima Gadaria, Indore District Health Officer and Dr RS Tomar, Medical Officer of Manpur Community Health Center, resigned on Wednesday, mentioning about the misbehaviour by Manish Singh, the Indore district collector and sub divisional magistrate Abhilash Mishra.

Dr Purnima Gadaria has sent her resignation from her government service, to MP Commissioner Health and Dr RS Tomar has sent his resignation to Indore district chief medical and health officer. Dr Gadaria levelled some serious allegations against the Indore district collector Manish Singh later, in the evening. She said that she has been working with extreme dedication throughout the COVID pandemic, but the way in which the district collector was behaving with her publicly during meetings has hurt her a lot.

Despite her hard work, the district collector has humiliated her publicly and has called hernikamma (worthless). She is ready to listen about her short comings and will work to address them, but it doesn’t mean that should humiliate them this way. He only has one way communication at meetings and will never listen to what they have to say. Many staff members are hurt by his behaviour.

She further said that she would reconsider her resignation, if some senior officer or minister assures them that such insulting behaviour won’t be repeated in future.

Dr Tomar mentioned in the resignation letter that he has to take insulin injections four times daily and has also undergone angioplasty in the past. But despite of all his health problems, he has worked with utmost dedication and honesty. The manner in which the SDM Abhilash Mishra behaved with him on Wednesday has hurt me beyond acceptance. He cannot bear such misconduct anymore and hence resigning from his post immediately.

Indore district collector Manish Singh could not be contacted over Dr Gadaria’s resignation despite repeated attempts and the SDM Abhilash Mishra said that the allegations of misbehaviour are baseless. He has asked officials to work in ensuring that all the required facilities are rendered to patients properly.

Also, a few months ago, the Indore district collector Manish Singh was caught on camera for scolding then Indore CMHO Dr Pravin Jadia publicly in a meeting. After the meeting, the senior government doctor was seen in tears outside the meeting hall. Following this incident, Dr Jadia had fallen ill and underwent a heart surgery also within a few weeks.

Source: The New Indian Express