The Hindu : New Delhi News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 05, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Readers' Mail

Rules set afire

Sir, -- Ever since the importance of greenery was realised, the Government has been encouraging afforestation and planting of tree saplings on a massive scale. Thus since the mid-70s we have seen the revival of streets and thoroughfares lined with trees similar to what Emperor Ashoka and other royals of yore had done. And today, despite rapid urbanisation, colonisation and industrialisation, we are able to see much greenery around us.

However, the trees tend to shed dry leaves, particularly prior to and around spring and summer. In urban areas, such leaves strewn all over the roads and pavements present an awful sight. And in the process of sweeping them away, our civic authorities have ignored a glaring fact about the relevance and utility of these dry leaves. For the sake of a clean look, the dry leaves are burnt at street corners or in the backlanes. The effect of suffocating smoke and soot of fly-ash needs no second opinion. On the contrary, if the dried leaves are allowed to decompose by the natural process they would provide ample organic manure for greenery elsewhere like nurseries, public parks and even private gardens.

Bearing in mind these facts, the civic agencies have enacted a rule banning the burning of dry leaves. Alas, what one experiences in some of the Capital's localities like Moti Bagh and R.K. Puram -- where government servants themselves reside -- is pathetic. The conservancy staff of both NDMC and MCD make heaps of swept dry leaves and burn them with gay abandon. At times the bonfire is lit right under a mature tree. On Tuesday, March 23, many shrubs along The Ridge were burning a la the Australian bush fire. Phone calls to the authorities concerned were in vain.

In such a scenario, when the civic agencies themselves seem to care two hoots for their own rules, the commoners and residents' welfare associations must come forth to stop this menace of burning not only dry leaves but also other biodegradable garbage.

Ruchi Gupta,

B-18, DDA Flats, D Block,

Vasant Vihar,

New Delhi - 110 057.

* * *

`No dowry demand' Sir, -- This is with reference to the news report (by Press Trust of India news agency) on Page 5 of this edition (March 18) about "dowry demand" - - as alleged by advocate Shankar Lal -- by myself, my wife, son Atul and daughter Meeta. The matter is only at the stage of an FIR having been registered.

It has neither been investigated by the police nor has it reached court so far. It is unfortunate that laws made for the help of women in this country are often misused due to mal-intentions of the bride's side.

We went to Bhopal for our son's marriage with advocate Shankar Lal's daughter Poorti on March 16. Poorti communicated her refusal for marriage. The family of Mr. Shankar Lal and nearly 25 of their relatives started intimidating, pushing and threatening us in case we tried to contact anybody or escape. All lines of communication were cut off.

Our baratis being very small in number and elderly -- myself 70 years of age, my wife 62 years and other seven relatives like my mother (91 years), cousin (77 years), cousin's wife (72 years) -- we were unable to resist them physically.

In desperation my daughter and son tried to escape to inform the police but were dragged back by the relatives of the bride. We have no relatives in Bhopal and so had no help at that time. When the bride was eventually brought to meet us, she repeated her refusal for marriage. We were completely shocked and stunned. To ensure that their daughter goes unscathed, Mr. Shankar Lal registered a false allegation of dowry against us.

On March 17, my son and I were granted bail. The dowry allegation against us does not hold water as my son, an NRI, earns quite handsomely. I myself am in the highest income-tax bracket, my daughter is a noted vocalist earning very well.

Besides being an artiste, I have been in the noble profession of teaching and we are strictly against dowry.

All the tickets for our journey -- our coming to Bhopal, our return flight to Delhi -- and our reception venue booking money, everything has been paid for by us.

Their reported allegation of Atul turning away by going to the airport does not hold water as no sane person would run away leaving his suitcase behind in the hotel, without a ticket, leaving his father, mother and sister behind. My son went there to obtain tickets for his relatives for attending the reception in Delhi. The wedding was at 6-22 p.m. So where is the logic of running away at 8 a.m. when we had come all the way from Delhi at 5 a.m. on the wedding day?

The contribution to the field of music by the Pandits of Gwalior is widely known. Our family is very well respected in the music world.

L.K. Pandit,

D-4/B, DDA Flats, Munirka,

New Delhi - 110 067.

* * *

Gurgaon calling

Sir, -- On behalf of the Residents' Welfare Associations of over 60 HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) and privately-built colonies of Gurgaon, the Gurgaon Council of People's Action strongly protests against the obstructive attitude of the Election Office in Haryana in:

a) refusing to accept over 5000 bona fide applications for enrolment in the electoral rolls to enable them to cast their votes in the ensuing parliamentary elections;

b) refusing to prepare and issue a copy of the supplementary list containing the names of over 8,500 applications submitted on the 16th of February, 2004;

c) refusing to issue Form No.6 to anyone wishing to apply for enrolment and refusing to accept any new applications either in bulk or from individuals even after a commitment by the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana;

d) knowingly misleading prospective voters/applicants;

e) and obstructing at various stages the enrolment of new voters.

People's Action considers the above-mentioned stand of the Election Office as tantamount to denial of the fundamental right of all those who wish to be enrolled and vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

People's Action, representing the Residents' Welfare Associations as stated above, demands that the Central Election Commission direct and immediately order:

a) acceptance of the over 5,000 applications for enrolment as per precedent set vide letter dated the 5th of February, 2004, issued by the Election Office, Gurgaon, and include their names in the electoral rolls to enable eligible voters to exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections;

b) extension and continuation of the enrolment of bona fide voters through registered RWAs;

c) permission to vote, to all the voters thus enrolled in the forthcoming elections;

d) an enquiry into the status of new voter enrolments in the Lok Sabha constituency of Mahendargarh since 1996, with specific reference to the Assembly constituency of Gurgaon, and;

e) replacement of the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana by any impartial official from outside the State, as a pre-requisite to holding free and fair elections in the State.

It may be added that People's Action is constrained to address this appeal to the Chief Election Commissioner only after exhausting all other options at every level.

Inder Nath,

Convenor, People's Action, Gurgaon,

C-1800, Sushant Lok I,

Gurgaon - 122 002.

* * *

Have a heart

Sir, -- Just how the much talked about reduction in fees at the Indian Institutes of Management has actually affected the parents and guardians of the students does not appear to be a matter of interest to our mediapersons and some of the IIT-masters who do not appear to have a heart for the Indian lower middle class who may like to send their wards to IITs. The media apathy over this aspect is shocking.

The general public may love to know from the investigative journalists and news analysts the real impact of fee reduction on the lower middle class and the taxpayers of the country.

Balram Misra,

8B/6428-29, Arya Samaj Road,

Dev Nagar, Karol Bagh,

New Delhi - 110 005.

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