BENGALURU, 8 FEB

A large number of illiterate people found themselves in a tricky situation as they were not able to write their woes on paper to be submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the Janaspandana programme here on Thursday.

People seeking help from Siddaramaiah during the redressal programme had to submit a letter explaining their problems along with the application.

Kousalya, a house help from Bengaluru, told Salar News, “We do not know how to read and write but we have travelled for 35 kilometres to air our problems. People at the counter are not willing to help us.”

Nagaraj, a patient from Ballari suffering from hip stiffness, said: “We are willing to pay if someone can write us a letter to list our grievances. We have travelled from other districts just to meet Siddaramaiah.”

Hundreds of people were seen wandering outside the Vidhana Soudha looking for someone to help them express themselves on paper.  Parvathamma, a 60-year-old lady, said, if the government is hosting such programmes they know people from all walks of life will be present, so they should arrange something to help people note down their problems.

Several people also said they missed a day’s work and paid bus and train ticket fares just to meet Siddaramaiah. “If we do not get to give him our grievance, then it is all a waste,” a participant said.