Sahakarnagar Residents Raise Concern As Ward Officer Exits WhatsApp Group
Sahakarnagar Residents Raise Concern As Ward Officer Exits WhatsApp Group - Pune pulse
The Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar residents are baffled as the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar PMC Ward Officer Surekha Bhange has left the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar Ward Office WhatsApp Group.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Amit Abhyankar, Founder Member, Sahakarnagar Citizens Forum, said “On 15th September, Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar Ward Officer Surekha Bhange had conveyed through a message on the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar Ward Office WhatsApp Group that the number of citizens participating in the monthly Mohalla Committee is increasing which is a satisfying thing for us & the officers present in the Mohalla Committee work on the issues & grievances presented in front of them by the citizens. However, apart from Sahakarnagar area, there are other topics & issues too which need to be addressed. Hence, for some reasons, I am leaving the WhatsApp Group. However, citizens can present their grievances in the Mohalla committee or send their issues to me in written form. Everyone has numbers of the concerned officers. Thus, to address their grievances, citizens can contact them too. Amit shared, ‘On 14th September, I had messaged on the WhatsApp Group about other issues for which there was no response after which this message was sent by the Ward Officer. She said that she has other things to look out for apart from Sahakarnagar. However, the ward’s name for which she is appointed is Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar. So, this point of hers about other issues than Sahakarnagar area is not understandable.”
Amit Abhyankar added, “We waited for almost 3 weeks hoping that she would join the WhatsApp Group again. But that did not happen. Also, if the Ward Officer leaves the WhatsApp Group, then an officer instead of her must be there on the Group as a representative of the Ward Officer. Also, on 25th September, the new admin of the group changed the setting of the WhatsApp Group to Only Admins can send messages. Due to this, citizens’ voices have been curbed completely. On top of that, the monthly Mohalla Committee meeting, which is there for citizens to present their issues, has been dismissed i.e. the September month’s Mohalla Committee meeting hasn’t happened. Then where should the citizens go to address their issues? Hence, we are going to send a written request to the ward officer in 1 or 2 days’ time regarding the issue. If we do not get any response for it too, then we would approach the PMC Commissioner.”
Amit Abhyankar further stated that the following points must be addressed effectively:
· Is it right for Ward Officers to leave the group?
· Who has been given the responsibility of the group when the Ward Officer isn’t going to be present?
· By changing the settings of the WhatsApp Group to Only Admins Can Send Messages, the citizens’ voice has been curbed.
Surekha Bhange, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar Ward Office, said “Due to some reasons, I had to leave the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar Ward Office WhatsApp Group.”
Shreyas Vange
