Money, power influencing society: Ex-Lok Ayukta

Bapatla: Former Lok Ayukta of Karnataka Santosh Hegde has expressed concern over increased influence of money and power in society.He was speaking at a meeting on the eve of 'Civil Services Day' at AP Human Resource Development Institute here on Friday.

He said that all the three pillars of democracy were under grave threat owing to concentration of money and power in some influential people. The very meaning of democracy that it was of the people, for the people and by the people had changed. Now, it had become of some people, for some people and by some people, he lamented.

Hegde was unhappy as Parliament was not functioning. Last time, no business was taken up for 19 days costing Rs 10,000 crore of public money per day. He said executive was becoming corrupt. Judiciary is taking long time to deliver judgments. He said even now many people does not know about the powerful Lok Ayukta system functioning in the states.
He said that he fought against illegal mining in Karanataka keeping the needs of future generations in mind. 

He said that he had helped people suffering from maladministration. He said people had to change society and added that humanism should be given top priority. He felt that all the politicians and officers should treat people humanly.

Director-General of the institute D Chakrapani presided over the morning session. He said that the institute had so far conducted 311 training programmes covering 22,000 government employees in the last two-and-a-half years. Human Rights leader Prof G Haragopal spoke on the life of former IAS officer Sankaran.  Scientist I Suryanarayana and others spoke on the occasion.

A number of government officials from throughout the state attended the two-day programme.Forum for Better Bapatla secretary PC Sai Babu and other local elite attended.