ZP CEO takes corrupt babus by surprise

In just a week, three gram sevaks suspended on the spot, PHC doctors sent showcause notices, as Mandhare shows up without warning to cut through red tape

Administrative officials demanding bribes, misappropriating funds, taking arbitrary leaves from work or indulging in any malpractices, beware! An unexpected crackdown initiated recently has already witnessed the suspension of three gram sevaks in just the last four days, besides a slap on the wrist for two medical officials in rural locations, who were found neglecting their duties.

In a twist right out of any righteous Bollywood potboiler, the young Indian Administrative Services (IAS) official helming the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) has over the last one week started paying ‘surprise visits’ to government offices across Pune district in secret — without any prior intimation — in a bid to expose the widespread nexus of corrupt bureaucrats. Not only does he make it a point to inform no other official about his upcoming visit, but he also lands up at the location in his private vehicle.

In only a few days of suddenly showing up at various villages, Pune ZP’s chief executive officer (CEO) Suraj Mandhare has already found gram sevaks absent from their place of duty and involved in serious corruption, revealing a web of red tape that only the hapless public is usually trapped within.


Take for instance the latest incident, which took place on Wednesday at Ketkawle village of Purandar taluka.

When Mandhare reached the local body building in the afternoon, he found that not only had gram sevak Sujay Poman locked up the entire office and gone on holiday — despite it being a working day — but also that the entire workplace was devoid of any staff, as they had all followed suit by taking an off, leaving citizens with any work hanging sans notice. Poman was immediately suspended by Mandhare.

On the other hand, the story revolved not around dereliction, but greed at Chandkhed village in Maval. Here, it was found on Tuesday that gram sevak Pratibha Dongre had ‘forgotten’ to maintain any monetary records for almost a year, wherein she accepted money for services provided by the local body, then avoided paying legal receipts. Faced with this blatant misappropriation of funds, Mandhare personally checked the entire records in her presence, and issued an order of suspension on the spot.

Similarly, at Haveli’s Manjri, village development officer PM Lonkar was caught red-handed on Monday while accepting a bribe from villagers to register an illegal construction.

The hawk’s eye vigil of the CEO also extended to primary health centres (PHC) in multiple locations, whose medical staff were sent showcause notices for observed lapses like absence, uncleanliness and not keeping records of financial transactions. At Nasarapur and Yevase in Maval, two PHC doctors were showcaused for a number of lapses seen during Mandhare’s surprise visit last Saturday.

“It’s my duty to ensure that citizens get administrative services,” the IAS official told Mirror when approached. “So, I decided to crosscheck ground realities by visiting offices in a private vehicle. To send a clear message to misbehaving employees, we started suspending them on the spot.”

Elaborating on his experience, the ZP chief said, “At many PHCs and ZP-run schools, issues of funding or manpower no longer exist. But, lacunae are still rampant while providing services to citizens. Now, these will be met with a zero-tolerance approach — which will continue till satisfactory performances by staff become the norm. We are also pegging the responsibility on immediate supervisors of ensuring that no repetition of such conduct, which maligns the government, is seen.”

On the flipside, Mandhare also saw some stories of hope. At several places, he noted that officials in remote areas are doing their best without much support from the ZP. “Many primary school teachers are innovative in their work and teaching skills, helping rural children flourish in their academic careers,” he added.

Lauding this manoeuvre, Tushar Zende, a member of Pune district’s Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), told Mirror, “Such officials with a thick skin always help rectify the system. Out of political pressure, many senior officers avoid taking stringent action. In contrast, this CEO’s approach and efforts are certainly praiseworthy.”