Kerala: Old age home inmates want old official back

THRISSUR: The inmates of the government old age home at Ramavarmapuram have demanded that Mr V.G. Jayakumar,  superintendent, who was transferred should be brought back as he was  taking care of their needs well.  They had earlier sought the transfer of the female cook alleging that she was harassing them and abusing them verbally. The authorities, however, transferred both the cook and the superintendent, who had supported their cause.

The inmates told DC on Tuesday that the new superintendent had issued gag orders preventing them from talking to the media  and restricted their movement outside the home. “All the 73 inmates here want Mr Jayakumar to be brought back as our superintendent,” a woman  inmate who was in  the forefront of the sit-in protest and fasting demanding the removal of the cook held last week told DC.

“The cook was transferred after we resorted to sit-in protest last week by skipping the lunch. But, there was no reason to transfer  the superintendent  who was giving us  humanitarian care,” she added. The copy of the transfer order of both the superintendent and the cook says in a single line that in view of the safety and welfare of the inmates of the home,  such a transfer is effected. Sources close to the home and the district social justice department said that  the  social justice officer was in favour of the cook who was appointed through employment exchange.  She  also had high political connections, the inmates said.