They have come from various parts of the state to get trained at an academy considered one of the best in the state but are not provided even basic facilities. The result, they were forced to take shelter in rooms outside the campus, take food and water from outside and finally land in hospital.
This is the condition of the 50-odd probationary excise sub-inspectors who are now being treated at Fever hospital in Nallakunta here.
In the second week of last month, 188 probationary SIs, who were selected following the 2008-09 notification, started their training at the AP Prohibition and Excise Academy at Bandlaguda for a six- month period.
“The academy has all the facilities but has made none available to us,’’ a probationary SI told Express.
Worse, the aspiring public servants have no way to protest. “Since we are getting into a uniformed force, we can’t make our complaint at a higher pitch,’’ said an aspirant from Guntur district being treated at the hospital.
The probationary SIs were asked to find their own accommodation. “Six or seven of us stay in a room outside the academy. We have to get up at 4.30 am so that we can leave for training by 6 am,’’ another said.
They also complained that outdoor training like PT and March-Past was given to them on a vigorous note.“We suspect that the march-past training, which began five days ago, led to this situation. We were forced to do it on a dry and dusty ground and the dust rose and blinded us. We could not see what is before us and this drill lasts one hour. The dust might have caused this infection,’’ a trainee from a Telangana district said. The ground had to be sprinkled with water before a march-past is conducted but was not done, he pointed out.
Some others complained about non-availability of food and water at the academy. “We gave contract to a nearby mess owner to provide us food. He used to serve us food in the academy during day since the academy authorities did not provide us food,’’ he said.
As for drinking water, the trainees were forced to rely on water from outside. ``We used to purchase bottled or mineral water. But there is no guarantee about the purity of even bottled water,’’ another candidate complained. When some candidates complained about lack of drinking water with the authorities, they were reportedly told that it is part of training.
“What will you do if you go into jungles? You have to get habituated to this kind of circumstances also,’’ an officer allegedly told a probationer.
“Being probationary officers, we can’t complain. Even if we complain, it falls on deaf ears,’’ they said.
According to those who fell sick, ever since the march-past training began, they have had complications like fever and throat pain. Some took anti-biotics but in vain. On Saturday night, they were brought to Fever Hospital while some others left for their respective places.
Doctors said the infection might have been caused by contaminated water or food or even dust. “It may be bacterial or viral but it spreads very fast,’’ a doctor said.
The AP Prohibition and Excise Academy is spread over 26 acres at Bandlaguda on the city’s outskirts. It was established to provide indoor and outdoor training to the personnel of the department and to upgrade their skills.