The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Corridors of Vidhana Soudha witness `transfer mela'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 20, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Corridors of Vidhana Soudha witness `transfer mela'

Staff Reporter

Hundreds of teachers gather at Minister's office

Basavaraj Horatti

BANGALORE: The office of Minister for Primary and Secondary <129>Education Basavaraj Horatti is said to have received 10,000 applications from teachers for transfers.

However, only five per cent of teachers have sought transfers, according to Mr. Horatti.

Despite the Government's announcement that there will be no general transfers at the moment in any department, employees seeking transfers have been crowding the corridors of the Vidhana Soudha.

The west-facing corridor on the third floor, where Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's chamber is located, along with the offices of Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Mr. Horatti, resembles the waiting lounge at a bus station.

The side of the building facing the High Court is crowded too. Applicants for transfers are said to have tried to meet him at the Legislator's Home when they were told that he was not available for meetings at the Vidhana Soudha.

There seems to be no let-up in the number of aspirants who gather in front of Mr. Horatti's office, not to mention the offices of the Chief Minister, who holds the Energy and Public Works portfolios. On Friday, hundreds of employees were seen camping on the corridors, with children and family, and carrying food and water.

Among them was primary school teacher Usha Rao (name changed), who is seeking a transfer to Bangalore from Channapatna. She wants to join her husband, who works in a nationalised bank.

Radha Bai (name changed), wants to be retained in Haveri as her daughter is in final year in college, and she is here, trying to press her case.

It is learnt that about 5 per cent of 4,500 engineers who hold diplomas routinely seek transfers or try to be retained in their current postings.

Deadline extended

The State Cabinet has extended the deadline for the transfer of government employees from May 25 to May 30.

However, in the Education Department, the transfers would be completed by May 25 as schools would have re-opened by then, Mr. Horatti said here on Friday.

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