SHILLONG: The Director of Social Welfare, Hima Shangpliang has come under flak for allegedly misusing his official position to further his political cause by visiting Mawsynram and also the patients from Mawsynram undergoing treatment for mushroom poisoning at Civil Hospital.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing in a statement issued to the media said the NGO has noted that the Director Social Welfare, has always been in the limelight only as an individual and not as a Director and it seems that whenever he intended to visit the Mawsynram Constituency or its people at the hospitals, the media are alerted to cover the event.
“The CSWO is also made aware that the Director intends to contest from Mawsynram and has been misusing his post to further his intentions which is against the rule. It was learnt that this particular officer used to visit Mawsynram every now and then”, Kharshiing said
As per the All India Services Conduct Rules, 1968, every member of the Service shall maintain high ethical standards, integrity and honesty with political neutrality, “but the Director has concentrated in furthering his political aspirations by using his posts whenever he visited the Civil Hospital at Shillong to meet the families from Mawsynram who were affected by consuming poisonous mushrooms.”
According to CSWO, Shangpling is the director of the Social Welfare of the State and not of Mawsynram only and he is bound by the All India Service Rules 1968, where it categorically mentions that every member of the Service shall declare any private interests relating to his public duties, act with fairness, not misuse his position as civil servant, refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices.
The CSWO demanded that this officer should report to the Government giving details of the nature of his participation in his visits to the Civil Hospital which was covered by the media. The Government should not allow such precedence which will give way to many officials exploiting their positions as Government servants.
The CSWO also demanded action against the officer “who exploited his position as an official of the state for his self interest”.
When contacted, Shangpliang said that he went to hospital as an individual who cares for the sick and not as a Director of Social Welfare. “I have not misused my official position. “Going to see the sick cannot be translated into political colours and overtones”, he added.
