IAS officer Harjot Kaur apologises for her objectionable remarks

Patna: Although Harjit Kaur, IAS has apologized for her remarks, IAPSM has condemned the comments of chairperson cum MD of Women Child Development Corporation WCDC Harjot Kaur made during interaction with girls in a function, the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (Bihar Chapter) demanded unconditional apology from the IAS officer and urged the government to appoint officers sensitive towards their duty.
Strongly criticizing the remarks of Harjit Kaur, state President of IAPSM Community Medicine, IGIMS Patna, Sanjay Kumar, Prof. Head, Department of Community Medicine, IGIMS Patna, said that he was shocked to see a senior and responsible IAS officer passing such comment at a forum meant for addressing the health and welfare issues of young girls.
Earlier a video clip of a workshop on “Sasha enhancing the value of girls in Bihar”, went viral in social and print media in which Harjot Kaur responding to some of the queries of the girls who said if the government could provide them with sanitary pads at affordable rates of Rs.20-30 was heard saying that “there is no end to such demands. Today you are asking for sanitary pad tomorrow there will be another demand to provide free jeans, then nice shoes and also condoms for family planning”.
Dr Kumar said it was rather unfortunate that such a deplorable comment has come from an officer who is herself a woman
and would be expected to understand issues like these better than her male counterparts.
Another senior faculty member at IGIMS and State Secretary of the IAPSM, Dr. Setu Sinha said that a statement like this not only reflects the ignorance of the bureaucrat about the existing provisions to provide free condoms and sanitary pads under various government like Family Planning, National AIDS Control Program and Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, but also belittles the efforts of all the stakeholders who have been engaged in awareness and relevant activities to promote the sexual and reproductive rights of the citizens. This
statement is a direct contradiction to the expected responsibilities of the office she holds, he said.
In a joint press-release Dr Kumar an Dr Sinha demanded unconditional apology from the concerned IAS officer and urged the government to consider appointing an officer who can exhibit more sensitivity in letter and spirit while discharging their duties of
this office. (UNI)