The Hindu : New Delhi News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Readers' Mail

Spare the rod

Sir, -- The recent incident of boys slapping girls in a government school at Dhanas is most deplorable. I am a student of Class X at Army School, Ambala Cantt. I would neither like to be slapped by a fellow-student, be it boy or girl, nor would slap them. As far as my teacher is concerned, he or she can admonish me for my mistakes, but definitely not humiliate or beat me. I like my self-respect and work hard to maintain it.

Humiliation and beatings don't make students more serious or produce better results. These make them lose their self-esteem and turn them indifferent. My mother is a class teacher in my school. All students love her and her class always stands first in various competitions. This is because she knows each child by name, relates to him, and follows a novel way of teaching. Apart from making her teaching extremely interesting by interactive means, she plays some creative game with her students after completing the lesson. Those showing improvement in studies are rewarded by her with small gifts bought from her own money. She regularly interacts with the parents of her students and gives them feedback on their progress. As a result, the parents regard her and make sure that their wards go to school fully prepared. They often ring up home to clear doubts while helping their children with their home work. "Madhu Ma'am" is a role model for her students.

I have cited the above real example to prove the point that if the teacher is serious, dedicated and loving, the students will respond positively. Then both teaching and learning become a pleasure.

I request all teachers to spare the rod and adopt a caring attitude as a mother would do.

Aniket Singh,

Class X, Army School,

Ambala Cantt - 133 001,

Haryana.

DU calling

Sir, -- In "Campus Jottings" by Lakshmi B. Ghosh (September 2), it is reported that the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deepak Nayyar, has been elected Honorary Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes scholar and obtained his B.Phil. and D.Phil in Economics.

While his pedigree is academically impeccable, he has not allowed the Delhi School of Economics to revise its B.A. Honours in Economics (which extends back to 1974) on the ground of "peer review" by JNU (with which Prof. Nayyar is associated). Moreover, once Prof. Om Prakash retires from the Delhi School of Economics in January 2005, it will have no Department of Economic History and Comparative Economic Development, which needs urgently to be saved.

As Prof. Nayyar enters the "lame duck" period of his May 2000-April 2005 regime, he must do justice to the Delhi School of Economics.

Vinod Chowdhury,

Head of the Department of Economics,

St. Stephen's College,

Delhi - 110 007.

No, IGNOU

Sir, -- Defiant execution of the law, distorted implementation of rules and delayed action on policy matters are some of the fundamental axioms of "quality management" at Indira Gandhi National Open University -- the so-called centre of excellence in open and distance learning. Its Scheme of Medical Benefits for Retired Staff is a typical example.

The scheme was approved as a policy decision by its Board of Management on September 27, 1997. The policy clearly states that medical facilities for the retired staff will be at par with those available to the in-service staff. However, it awaited implementation till final approval of its modalities in February 1999. Yet it was not made effective till it was reiterated in August 2000 wherein a punitive ceiling of Rs. 6,000 per year was imposed exclusively for the retired staff for outdoor treatment. Information even about this was kept secret for five years despite repeated enquiries. It was conveyed to me only when I approached the Grievance Cell of the Government of India.

Resolution No.BM.66.14.4(ixc) of IGNOU'S Board of Management meeting dated August 7, 2000, clearly states, "Medical facility may be extended to the pensioners and their spouses through panel doctors and approved hospitals only." Nowhere does it stipulate that the scheme will be effective from August 2000, or that there shall be an annual ceiling of Rs. 6,000 exclusively for the retired staff for outdoor treatment. The ceiling of Rs. 6,000 or of any amount for that matter as a modality of implementation for outdoor treatment exclusively for the retired staff is a crass distortion of the policy decision of parity with the in-service staff. It is not only anomalous but also discriminatory on humanitarian grounds. Retirement does not dilute the status and seriousness of a chronic ailment like artery heart disease or cancer. It also does not reduce the level or quantum of its corresponding treatment. On the contrary, the intensity of a chronic disease increases with age, and the treatment becomes more expensive due to continuously rising costs.

A policy decision becomes effective from the date of its approval. Its implementation can get delayed due to administrative reasons such as formulation of modalities, but that cannot overrule the content and intent of the policy decision. Indeed, modalities cannot overrule the basic policy of parity. No such discrimination exists in any other Central University like JNU or Delhi University. IGNOU must change its absurd laws -- and its mind-set -- and do justice to its retired staff.

V.D. Madan,

OSD (Retd.), IGNOU,

N-23D, Saket,

New Delhi - 110 017.

Electric shock

Sir, -- I wish to draw your attention to corruption rampant in NDPL. They are charging for faulty meter billing even when it has been testified by their linesman that the meter is faulty. My electricity bill for the cycle 11/6/2002 to 21/8/2002 was Rs. 8131.73 which is about six times more than my normal bill. My bill for the period 11/4/2002 to 11/6/2002 was only Rs. 1280.

The meter installed at my residence -- QU-281 B, Chitrakoot, Pitampura -- bears No. A-1361202, 1548828 DL. The linesman informed me that the meter had developed fault and needs to be replaced. He also told me that it could be done in no time if I was willing to pay him Rs.1,500. On my complaining to the JE and AE no action was taken. After persistent efforts I was able to get the meter replaced on December 27, 2002.

The average consumption according to the meter reading of NDPL was 463 units per month. The total electricity consumption bill per month comes to Rs. 1,303. I made the balance payment to NDPL as per its norms of consumption pattern. But NDPL is still trying to create confusion and not accepting the logic nor giving any counter-reasoning. This has caused me a lot of mental tension. I have also written to the Lieutenant-Governor, the Chief Minister and the Power Minister of Delhi, but to no avail. I now hope for immediate relief from NDPL

K.K. Sharma

QU-281 B, Chitrakoot,

Pitampura

Delhi - 110 088.

Lollipops....

Sir, -- It makes my heart swell with pride to see that young Jaitley, three years my junior at Delhi University, has wrought a veritable revolution in jurisprudence by at last removing the illogical distinction between "accused" and "culprit" (The Hindu, September 4). I shall send him lollipops and bars of chocolate when he is in prison, and perhaps also the Code of Criminal Procedure in comic book form.

Mukul Dube,

D-504 Purvasha,

Mayur Vihar 1,

Delhi - 110 091.

Long wait

Sir, -- I am a retired person aged 72 years. I had put my hard-earned money in a fixed deposit with Ceat Financial Services Ltd. (FD No.Q120-1173) for Rs. 10,000 for a period of 12 months, maturing on 8-5-2000.

More than four years have passed but even after several reminders I am yet to get my money.

I look forward to receiving my dues now.

A.C. Aswani,

J-125, Shivalik Nagar,

Hardwar (Uttaranchal) - 249 403.

* * *

(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal address of the writer and should be marked "Readers' Mail".)

Class X, Army School,

Ambala Cantt - 133 001,

Haryana.

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