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Nagpur: A senior lecturer at a Maharashtra govt-run educational institute in Nagpur has been included for election duty on Jan 15, even though she has a chemotherapy session scheduled on that date, reports Abhishek Choudhari. The 56-year-old cancer patient’s college officially wrote to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Dec 26, seeking cancellation of poll duty, citing health reasons. However, she again received a call on Jan 7 to attend a poll training workshop. After the civic body registered FIRs against four academics for refusing poll duty, the cancer patient was worried and scurried to the corporation office to get her name struck off. Till a week ago, at least 514 govt servants were issued show-cause notices in Amravati for remaining absent at training sessions. “I don’t want to lose my job or forego retirement benefits due to an adverse entry,” the lecturer said. “My next chemotherapy session is on Jan 15, due to which we appealed for cancellation. The senior officer handling election duty wrote on my application that it should ‘be considered’. However, his subordinates did not strike my name off poll duty list,” she said. On Thursday, when she again visited NMC HQ, officials said she would not be on active duty but in the “reserve pool”. However, even those in reserve must report to a designated place from where they may be routed to polling booths, if a requirement arises. Congress MLC Abhijeet Wanjarri said this reveals a very insensitive side of bureaucracy. We will not allow such things to happen,” he said.
