‘I am not an officer, I am your servant’:Says Sidhi collector, assures inquiry into complaint at public problem-solving camp

A public problem-solving camp was organised on Saturday in the village Nebuha of Majhauli Janpad Panchayat in Sidhi district. Around 4 PM in the evening, there was a large crowd at the Higher Secondary School premises. A large number of villagers had arrived with their respective problems. Collector Vikas Mishra was personally listening to people’s problems. During this time, Lalita Sen, a panch of the Gram Panchayat, came forward. She lodged a complaint against Sarpanch Basanti Kol. After hearing the problem, the Collector assured her of its resolution. When the panch thanked him for this, the Collector said that I am your servant, you people are the masters. Collector assured an inquiry into the complaint Ward member Lalita Sen also accused the sarpanch and secretary of working arbitrarily and irregularities in fund withdrawals. The complaint stated that regular gram sabhas and meetings were not being held in the Panchayat. Collector Vikas Mishra listened seriously to the complaint and assured an inquiry. After the complaint, the atmosphere became somewhat tense. The woman ward member thanked the Collector. At that moment, the Collector folded his hands and said, “I am not an officer, I am your servant; you are the master.” Hearing this, the people present were surprised. Basanti Bai smiled and left. Collector says, ‘Forget differences and work together’ Sarpanch Basanti Kol termed Lalita Sen’s allegations baseless. She claims that she stays present in the Panchayat regularly, and all work is done transparently. Handling the situation calmly, the Collector facilitated a reconciliation between both sides on the spot. He made the ward member and the sarpanch shake hands and said that forgetting mutual differences and working together for the village’s development is the biggest responsibility.