Long-serving staff at Social Development Ministry alleges being forced to resign

Aishath Shooza, former head of department at the Ministry of Family and Social Development that oversees the Home for People with Special Needs in K. Guradhoo, has alleged she was forced to resign from her post.

She has been working in the Ministry for 17 years.

A viral video on social media on social media shows a staff speaking at a meeting for senior staff at the Ministry. The staff, Shooza, said it was a historical day, even for the Ministry.

In this regard, she said she worked at the Ministry despite various obstructions due to interest, considering it her own work and with the intention of improving the services provided by the Ministry, day by day.

She also said the work had only been carried out because she had a big team supporting her and in this trajectory, thanked everyone who worked alongside her since 2007.

However, she said had been sidelined from all responsibilities she had been handling at the Ministry without a legitimate reason, dismissed from committees and banned from entering meetings of the Ministry’s senior officials.

She stressed that she was reverted to a general staff without providing a legitimate reason, adding her requests to meet with senior officials from the Ministry to clarify the reason behind the change had gone unanswered.

Shooza alleged that the Ministry formed to ensure the rights of women, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities had infringed the rights of a woman. She also claimed that there were other victims.

The Ministry of Family and Social Development has yet to comment on the allegations.