The District Child Protection Officer alleges that Social Welfare Minister Dr V Saroja verbally abused her.
Twenty-nine-year-old Meenakshi had been sitting in the Police Commissioner’s office in Chennai for over two hours when she spoke to The News Minute. The single mother, originally from Chennai, has been serving as the District Child Protection Officer in Dharmapuri since September 2016.
The events following her appointment have, however, allegedly pushed her to file a shocking complaint of corruption against none other than the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr V Saroja.
According to the officer, she had been facing hurdles in her posting from day one. “There was indirect pressure and several barriers I had to overcome. I didn’t think much of it initially. But in the last couple of months, issues intensified and I was having community based problems,” she says, not willing to elaborate. It was during this period of strife, that the Minister called Meenakshi to her residence of May 4.
At 4pm, the officer reached the residence of the Minister and walked in, leaving her sister to wait outside. “When I went in, I immediately realised that something was wrong. I was not even told to sit or asked about the book on child development that the department was planning to launch. Instead, I was subjected to a tirade of verbal abuse,” she claims.
The Minister allegedly told Meenakshi that the job she had got through clearing exams was actually worth Rs 10 lakhs. “She was angry that I got the posting without having to pay any money. She said my job is worth Rs 30 lakhs in the market now and said I should either pay the money or quit,” she alleges.
Dr Saroja allegedly even admitted to having caused trouble for Meenakshi at work to ensure she quits and chastised her for refusing to cave in. To make matters worse, Meenakshi says, she was subjected to character assassination. “She spoke very badly about the fact that I am a single mother. All I could do was cry, as a leader in such a big position attacked me personally. She said that as a minister she had the power to terminate my job as it was contractual. She threatened to fabricate complaints against my work and character and even initiate an inquiry against me,” says the officer, her voice breaking.
A shaken Meenakshi who left the Minister’s residence following these ‘threats’ claims to have collapsed on the road. “I had gotten a hernia operation in April and was still recovering. I had to get admitted again after this. In fact I wanted a transfer to Chennai because my child was alone there with relatives. I thought it would be better for my health as well, if I were at home. Even that was used against me. The Minister said I must first pay for the post I got before asking for a transfer. I was told I didn’t understand the value of money because I didn’t pay for my government job,” she claims.
Meenakshi who has studied psychology, says she was recognised for her work as a private counsellor who handled school children across various districts. The government under former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa apparently even noticed her counselling programmes following the Chennai floods.
Repeated calls to clarify this matter with the Minister accused of corruption went unanswered.
“If Jayalalithaa madam were alive I wouldn’t be sitting here in the Police Commissioner’s office. I have been trying to meet the present Chief Minister for the last three days but he has not even responded,” says Meenakshi hurriedly as she ends the conversation to attend to summons to finally meet the Commissioner.
Source: The News Minute