Maharashtra government suspends MTR Field Director
On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government suspended Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) field director Srinivas Reddy. Reddy’s suspension followed the suicide death of Harisal Range forestry officer Deepali Chavan in Melghat on March 26.
Chavan had left a suicide note, in which he accused Vinod Shivkumar, Deputy Forest Director of Gugamal Forestry Division, of harassment and mentioned that he was taking an extreme step due to harassment.
In the letter, Chavan had mentioned that Reddy had not taken action against Shivkumar even though she had informed him of the harassment. In the letter, however, she also thanked Reddy for his support, saying she felt safe when he was around. She had said that only Shivkumar should be responsible for her suicide.
Shivkumar has been arrested by the Amravati police for instigation of suicide. The government had been under intense pressure from various quarters, including politicians and forestry personnel associations, to suspend Reddy.
Reddy has already been transferred from Melghat. But instead of silently accepting the transfer, he decided to write a letter to the Head of the Forest Force and also to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying that his transfer was unfair. Some female Forest Department staff had also met with Amravati MP Navneet Rana to express their support for Reddy, only to receive a rebuke from Rana, who criticized them for supporting someone who was considered responsible for the tragedy. turn of events that led to El suicidio de Chavan.
All of Reddy’s moves to galvanize support have not gone well with the state government. Incidentally, Reddy is believed to be the only Tiger Reserve Field Director in the country to hold the rank of additional primary chief conservator of the forest.
On Tuesday, forestry personnel organizations held demonstrations in Nagpur, demanding action against Reddy.
The Teosa Congressional MLA and Women’s and Children’s Development Minister Yeshomati Thakur also met with Thackeray on Tuesday and called for Reddy’s suspension. Thakur asked the CM to order an investigation by the Amravati Divisional Commissioner and suspend Reddy until the investigation is completed.
Representing the CM, Thakur said that some Melghat workers had approached the Amravati district collector with complaints about problems at the workplace and asked him to do what is necessary. After this, the Collector communicated this to Reddy, who did not take the necessary action, Thakur alleges in the letter to the CM.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women also sent a notice to Reddy, requesting her explanation on the matter within eight days.
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.