37 days; five tahsildars!

• Who will be permanent for Belthangady taluk?

Belthangady: Land-site is the major problem faced by the people in any taluk. These issues are resolved by the revenue department and the tahsildar is the chief for this. However, in Belthangady taluk, though there are thousands of such problems, in a span of a-month-and-six days, there have been tahsildars!

More problems in sites

In comparison to all the taluks in DK district, Belthangady has the highest amount of problems related to plots. In other words, land under the forest department, Kudremukh National Park and similarly many other problems have persisted since a few decades. Due to this people have to fight on a daily basis.

Besides this, the tahsildar is also the chief for 94C, 94CC, Akrama-Sakrama land, ration card and a variety of other certificates. In such a situation, if the tahsildar keeps changing every now –and-then, the people are haunted by the thought on how their problems will be solved?

Normally, if a person is appointed by the government as a new official at a place, a little period of time is required by the newly appointed to learn and understand about their present location and it’s functioning. But, just when the official has understood the functioning and gathers pace, another new official replaces the old and the delay continues. Presently, the position of the tahsildar in Belthangady is also the same.

Starts from Dec 15^th!

A C Madan Mohan C who came to Belthangady as the Prabhari tahsildar in June 2018 took charge as the probationary tahsildar on Dec 15^th as per the government’s decision. Later Mulki tahsildar N Manikya replaced Mr Mohan from the position. tahsildar charge was given to Ananth Shankar who had 2-3 days experience as Puttur tahsildar.

He was followed by Moodbidri tahsildar Rashmi S R who was appointed as the Prabhari tahsildar nd took charge on Dec 31^st. Later, as per the circular given out by the election commission’s guidelines of Jan 4^th, all tahsildars were transferred in which Rashmi in Belthangady was transferred to Bantwal and Ganapati Shastri was appointed as the tahsildar of Belthangady taluk.

There is possibility that this transfer has been done in connection to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and there is possibility that post the election, a new tahsildar may come. In this way, there is no answer to the people’s question on who is the permanent tahsildar for Belthangady?

Tahsildar accepts charge

Ganapati Shastri accepted the charge as Belthangady tahsildar on Jan 21^st. He has been transferred from Chamarajanagara to Belthangady while Rashmi S R, the previous tahsildar here has been transferred to Bantwal taluk.

Government’s decision

“The issue of appointing a permanent tahsildar is left unto the government. For that we can do nothing. Presently a new tahsildar has been appointed. There is a possibility that the tahsildar has been transferred in view of the upcoming elections. The appointment has to be done on the level of the government,” said Sasikanth Senthil S, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner

Article by Kiran Sarapady translated into English by Aaron Dmello