By Mrs. Hansa Roy
To,
Dr. Shamsher Singh, IPS
The Police Commissioner, Vadodara
Subject: Repeated mental harassment and public humiliation by the GST officials of Central Revenue and Excise Colony, Baroda
Sir,
I am Mrs. Hansa Roy, a Geoscientist involved in getting the stray dogs spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies through personal capacity in many areas of Baroda, for the past eighteen years. For the said reason, I had been visiting the Central Revenue Colony, Baroda from 2009 onwards to feed, medicate for illness/injury (should the need be), keep a tab on arrival of any new dog (for immediate sterilisation and vaccination against rabies) for population stabilisation, while all the resident stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated against rabies through my daily efforts and total apathy and non-cooperation from the officials and residents. From 2010 to 2018 the Central Revenue Colony had zero stray dog multiplication – making it a success case for Animal Birth Control. From 2018 onwards, officials who hate stray dogs intervened and I had to file two separate police complaints (against Mr. _______ in 2018 and Mr. _________, Chief Commissioner, February, 2019) on grounds of animal cruelty, my public humiliation and mental harassment caused by the behaviour of the respective officials. They had tendered an apology at the Gotri police station and yet it has never made a difference as history keeps repeating itself.
On 23rd of March 2023, I was once again barred from entering the Colony, at the behest of one Mr. _______ (as told by the security guard). I left my mobile number with the security so that the official can reach me. No phone call came. Today, 24th March, 2023 when I wanted to provide a copy of the apology letter tendered by one of their officials, the watchman simply refused to accept it and was adamant that I come along with him to Mr. _________ who had ordered that I be brought in front of him. Am I a convict? So much for a respect for a senior citizen.
Every time there is an ignorant and arrogant official or a resident, or a regime change, I have to face harassment, public insults and criminal intimidation for the selfless service I have provided to a thankless residential block that has only killed, removed, mercilessly run down stray dogs.
In the recent past, they have removed a senior stray dog from the premises, broken the knees of another one who was crippled for life and lives with me at home now and brutally run down another senior stray dog who paid for her life. They have repeatedly called Animal Welfare Organizations for the illegal removal of stray dogs although each and every resident stray is sterilised and vaccinated. They have a single gate entry/exit but no record of these vans coming and going to pick up sterilised stray dogs for no reason is ever maintained. They have never learned to peacefully co-exist with the stray dogs in all these years. The remaining stray dogs are being provoked so that an untoward incident happens. As Government officials, they do not fear the law and have rather taken the law into their own hands. As per circular of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India (dated 25.6.2006), in terms of the Provisions of the Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, the Government servant who indulges in act of cruelty to animals will be making himself liable for action under the PCA Act. Besides, punishment under the Act, he would also make himself liable for action under CCS (Conduct) Rules for conduct unbecoming of a Government servant.
I have repeatedly provided sensitization documents to different officials, including the RWA for mass distribution for awareness creation. I am tired of explaining the same thing repeatedly, I have met seven different officials over the years, had eight meetings in total. They all have always digested the information and never dissipated it. While I do not expect any appreciation for my selfless service to keep their locality rabies free for years together, they certainly do not have any right to repeatedly insult, verbally abuse, publicly humiliate me and cause mental harassment to a senior citizen like me.
I demand a public apology from _____ for the public humiliation I have yet again had to face. I request action so that I am not subjected to anymore mental harassment at the behest of GST officials, Revenue Colony, Baroda.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Hansa Roy