Patna, Sep 29 (IANS): Senior IAS officer and Bihar Women and Children Development Corporation MD Harjot Kaur Bamhrah stirred up controversy with her abrasive responses to question by girl students at an event for Class 9 and 10 students here on Wednesday.
Video of the questions by students and the officer's testy and irritated answers at the 'Sashakt Beti, Samriddh Bihar' event, organised by the Corporation and Unicef, went viral on social media.
As a student asked Bamhrah that the government is providing school dress, scholarship, bicycles and many other facilities to students, can't it provide sanitary pads for Rs 20 to 30 to girls students - drawing applause, Bamhrah hit out, saying that people are clapping over the question but these are endless demands.
"Today, the government would provide you with sanitary pads for Rs 20 to Rs 30. Then you ask for jeans, pants and then, beautiful shoes," she said but did not stop there.
"When it comes to family planning, will the government give condoms (Nirodh) to you. Why would I have a habit of taking everything free from the government? What is the need of it?"
At that, the student said the government comes to them to seek their votes. Bamhrah angrily replied that "this is the height of stupidity. You don't vote and go to Pakistan. You are giving a vote to take money and facilities from the government".
That girl student responded that she is an Indian and why would she go to Pakistan?
"The government is providing facilities from the money of taxpayers. If taxpayers are paying taxes to the government, why would they not demand for the services?" she asked.
Another girl student claimed problem in toilets for girls in the school, saying that the boys also enter the girls' toilet and make them uncomfortable.
At this, Bamhrah asked if every student present in the hall has separate toilets for them at home, leaving many in the audience surprised and shocked at the tenor of the senior IAS officer who demeaned the girl students.
This is just a show of power in front of poor people. The girl has not asked her to pay anything from her own pocket. Will this arrogant lady use the same dirty language if this question was asked by her own 14-15 year old daughter?
The students will be called anti nationals or agents of opposition parties. They might dig our their family history to disgrace them
I stand by the lady officer – she has candidly spoken the truth: the truth is always bitter. Hence human beings tend to prefer believing in and hearing lies. She may not be the best of communicators or diplomats. She was merely trying to convey what every single citizen ought to be taught : “There is no free lunch” –Milton Friedman. India’s socialist mind-set needs to be changed we are already going the Venezuelan way. Devalued rupee, rising inflation, rising govt. debt., no jobs, rising poverty levels, .... Even China has dumped socialism decades ago. Nothing and absolutely nothing comes free from the govt. . The govt. is a bhikari(beggar) that lives off and shows-off using tax payers’ money. The more freebies the govt. hands out, the more taxes it will have to collect from its impoverished citizens. If the govt. has surplus money from taxes then it simply means that it has looted the citizens far beyond reasonable limits. The govt. must only provide financial assistance directly to the bank account of citizens who are under a pre-determined economic status that is necessary to live a life of dignity, not luxury. With this financial assistance the citizen can then make his/her owns decisions and choices about how to live, what to wear, eat etc. This assistance must stop when the citizen reaches the pre-determined economic status. Able bodied citizens who refuse to do any job to earn their daily livelihood must not be provided any financial assistance at all.
I agree with you, but if politicians get everything for free why cant we demand atleast few things? Whatever you say, I 100% support the girls for demanding. And how can a politician say if the people dont vote they can go to Pakistan? Who is she to tell that to others?
Dear Sir, I respect your views and agree with the context in which you view them. I have watched the video clip uploaded by Mojo story. The lady never asked anybody to go to P-stan; yes, she mentioned the "P" word but in a different context. IMHO that the story has been misreported by the media (including Mojo Story). Below is my comment written on the Mojo Story report; that met with the scissor of the censor board on this channel, I don't know whether it will meet with the same fate again, i'll try again : To me the lady officer does not sound aggressive or to be shouting. It is sensationalistic journalism by almost all news outlets that has taken this interaction out of its context. I think she was, in fact, trying to be humorous when she spoke . She was trying to educate the other side. She was forced to speak in a high-pitched voice to counter the other side which was being aggressive, argumentative and trying to speak over her. You may notice that the person who asked the question about the pads was not the person who was being argumentative, that was another person who was being the eternal argumentative Indian. That said, I congratulate the other side for fearlessly expressing their views without being cowed down by the “IAS” title. To that extent, i applaud the event organisers and the “people in power” on that stage for “allowing” the citizens their right of uncensored freedom of expression. On the matter of “votes”: the lady officer merely wished to point out that voting is voluntary and those who wish to live in a democracy must vote unless they want their country to turn into a theocracy. On the matter of “votes”: the lady officer merely wished to point out that voting is voluntary and those who wish to live in a democracy must vote unless they want their country to turn into a theocracy.
The lady IAS officer is rude and arrogant. I congratulate the brave school girls questions and their reply. The IAS officer is not paying from her pocket and she is not fit to continue in her post as she doesn't know to speak with school Children's!!! so how can she manage the public???
Clear example of commission ranking n getting a post. Disgrace to IAS fraternity. As if she gets it from her money forgetting that she is there co, of or money. Just dismiss her. Too much aroganceis gone to her head.
Verify her School and college certificate once...
The IAS officer may not be aware that condoms are freely available at government-run vending machines at railway stations and in some states. Height of arrogance .Appreciate the girls for standing firm and that also from Bihar
Did she pass her IAS with this silly knowledge? Nobody in their homes go together to same toilets like those that are made available in most institutes where if boys enter how can girls undress with boys around? Time to take back her degrees & let her visit the toilets first to see how they are provided where girls enter a single building before they enter their cubicles.
Harjot Kaur Bamhrah - should be sent to PAKISTAN first ! she got her degree by trespassing or bribing the politicians it seems !! the first thing she should realize is the fact that her privileges and salary come from citizens of India, not from any stupid maroon politician's house.
Height of power drunk arrogance such officer is unfit for het job. Indstead of helping to solve thr problems of students she not only insults them and try to bulldoze them, to shut up.
I would like to congratulate and appreciate the girl who posed the question and who retaliated to the stupid answers.
she is following the footsteps of pickly nimmy aunty...no answer to question...so dig some irrelevant topic and shut the mouth of people...typical upper caste manuvadi mindset..
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