The Hindu : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Readers' Mail

More buses needed

Sir - Though Coonoor has a population of over 2 lakhs, and there are many buses plying between Coimbatore and Ooty. The plight of the commuters boarding the bus at Coonoor is pathetic. They have to travel up to Mettupalayam standing.

In summer the problem is worse as the passengers have to wait for long owing to heavy rush. To minimise the woes of the bus passengers the TNSTC can ply adequate buses between Coimbatore and Coonoor.

Amrtheswaran,

Coonoor.

* * *

Unfair parking fee

Sir - Thanks for the news item highlighting unfair parking norms. The self-formulated system by the lessees exists in not only Ukkadam and Central Stand but the Railway Station too. In the Inter-State bus stand at Gandhipuram, the parking fee is changed every six hours, day or night. Hope the authorities will do the needful at the earliest.

M. Chandrasekharan,

Palakkad.

* * *

Siruvani supply

Sir - With reference to the news item published on December 18, it has been reported that "there is no change in the supply schedule of Siruvani water. There is no move to make it once in six days", quoting a press release. But this is not the case with the residents of Kurichy Panchayat. The citizens were getting Siruvani water once in seven days till November 30. From December 1, the supply was made once in 10 days. The consumers are paying Rs. 55/- per month irrespective of the quantum of water supplied with effect from November 2002. The failure of monsoon and the poor storage affects the residents of the areas within Corporation limits as well as Kurichy Panchayat equally. But why these double standards? I feel that the taxpayers of the panchayat are being treated as second-class citizens by the authorities.

V.V. Ramamurthy,

Coimbatore.

* * *

Railway concessions

Sir - Indian Railways is disabled-friendly. It gives concessions to physically-challenged in all the classes, all over India, barring super-fast trains like the Rajadhani, Geethanjali and Sathabdi expresses. A separate company coming under Ministry of Railways, M/s. Konkan Railway Corporation does not extend these privileges to them. As the Railway Budget is under process, it is suggested that the existing concessions could be extended to trains coming under the Ministry of Railways all over India.

P.P. Balan,

Coimbatore.

* * *

No chequebooks

Sir - Our organisation highlighted the non-availability of chequebooks at the Podanur Post Office during a dak adalat in 2002. We were told that the chequebooks were under print at the Kerala Government Press and assured that they would be made available soon.

When nothing happened over a year, the issue was raised at the last dak adalat in September 2003. We were informed then that chequebooks were now being printed at Nasik and that it would take some more time.

The Podanur post office has hundreds of accountholders as well as pensioners and one wonders as to how one can operate without the facility. Will necessary action be taken?

S.S. Ramakrishnan,

Coimbatore.

* * *

Public nuisance

Sir - Welfare functions organised by various political parties have become a nuisance. Party workers sometimes charge into offices, shops and even charitable institutions, demanding a large sum of money. Every other day political or caste groups come up with a donation ticket or sponsorship card and threaten us, if we dare oppose them. A few even abuse those who denied money, by spreading false news about the person or institution.

Welfare programmes usually fail to serve their purpose for rarely do the poor benefit from it. Invariably it is the well-wishers of that particular group who get the benefits.

The amount collected and spent is never accounted. There must be a system to ensure transparency, and only authorised persons should collect and the receipts should be issued immediately.

Publicity gobbles up a major portion of the money, hence discretion should be maintained.

Welfare functions satisfy the people only at that juncture but do not solve the problem. The groups should opt for long-term solutions to the problems of marginalised sections of society.

M. Gamaliyel,

Coimbatore.

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