Allegations of Caste Discrimination: Administrative Officer Claims Chamber Change Due to Dalit Identity

Basti- Anil Kumar Bhaskar, an administrative officer in the Health Department in Basti district, Uttar Pradesh, has leveled serious allegations of caste discrimination against Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. RS Dubey. In a viral video, Bhaskar claimed that since Dr. Dubey's arrival on September 30, 2022, he has been targeted due to his Dalit background. The situation escalated when his salary was deducted for 21 days in November, and he discovered that his office chamber had been separated without prior notification.

Bhaskar, who rose from being a clerk to an administrative officer through hard work and dedication, expressed his frustration, stating, "I have been selected through the Public Service Commission. Perhaps my post and his are similar. They are doing this because of this similarity."

He revealed the incident of finding his chamber separated upon returning to the office after the weekend and emphasized that he was not informed about this decision. Bhaskar, currently posted in the office of the Chief Medical Officer, spoke out about the discrimination he faced, even though Dr. Dubey did not use explicit caste-related language but subtly conveyed the message.

In response to these allegations, Chief Medical Officer Ram Shankar Dubey dismissed them as baseless. Dr. Dubey claimed that Bhaskar seldom attends work and attributed his absence to alcohol addiction, labelling the accusations as false. Despite these denials, an investigation into the matter has been ordered by the District Magistrate.

This incident is reminiscent of a broader issue, as exemplified by a senior IAS officer in Jammu and Kashmir, who had previously complained of caste discrimination within the administration. The officer, Ashok Parmar, alleged harassment and intimidation after exposing irregularities in the Jal Shakti department. The case led to demands for an impartial investigation into the allegations.

It remains to be seen how the investigation in Basti district unfolds, shedding light on the veracity of the allegations made by Anil Kumar Bhaskar against CMO Dr.Dubey.

Story Translated by Geetha Sunil Pillai

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