The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rampant mining of minerals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rampant mining of minerals

Library

Sir, — Starved of funds, the library at Government Higher Secondary School, Vazhavallan, despite a good patronage by the students, does not stock many books and magazines.

I request the Tuticorin district education officials to do the needful.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai,

Vazhavallan.

SHG bank

Sir, — After successfully experimenting with micro-finance, involving Women Self Help Groups, it augurs well to think of starting a bank of their own (apropos news item in The Hindu dated 26th). For lending and recovery of money, community participation is very important, especially in the case of small borrowers. Such a cooperative bank in the area of contiguity will serve in a better way for uplifting the poor. It must be the only answer to replace the fleecing local moneylenders.

There is no dearth of educated youths in rural areas now. These youths will be more than interested in running banks for SHGs. The nearby cooperative central bank or public sector bank can adopt one or more such banks.

It will be a good departure from the straightjacketed lending of banks with their uniform rules and regulations.

V.S.Sankaran,

Madurai.

Genuine grief

Sir, — The tsunami strike of December 26 claimed thousands of lives, besides rendering a multitude homeless. The enormity of the tragedy is such that we the lucky ones living inland, far from the areas of death and destruction, may not be able to fully comprehend it. Nevertheless, our grief over the death and misery wrought by the killer waves and our sympathy towards the suffering cannot but be genuine.

But, our grief and sympathy, essentially private and personal feelings, ought to be expressed in a dignified and constructive way, befitting a mature society. The number of posters that have come up in almost all places all over Madurai, in the name of Manrams, associations and even individuals, paying tearful homage to the departed and some even cursing the sea god for his heartless cruelty in inflicting a severe blow on mankind make one wonder whether the tragedy, too deep for words, is exploited for publicity. Precious money, which could be donated for rescue and relief operation, is thus wasted. This trend of advertising one's personal and private feelings through posters needs to be stopped forthwith.

It is time that we realised that it is not the size of the posters nor the literary language used which is important. They only deface public places. If our grief is genuine and sympathy sincere, it can be expressed silently and secretly though acts of selfless sacrifice. That is the need of the hour and nothing else.

D. Samuel Lawrence,

Madurai.

Litter box

Sir, — It is heartening to know that the Railway is concentrating on cleanliness in railway premises and running trains by undertaking a special drive. Indeed, the members of the Southern Railway Women's Organisation, Madurai Division, has taken the lead role by starting a laudable campaign to instil a sense of cleanliness among rail passengers. In this direction, the volunteers of SRWO have even taken the pain of travelling in trains to distribute paper covers and counselling passengers to drop their wastes in them and collecting them back. It is worth emulating in other divisions and zones.

This campaign can, however, be only symbolic and can never work as a permanent solution. It is suggested that, to enable the cleanliness-conscious passengers to drop their waste matters, the Railway should provide a litter box in all coaches, including the second-class general coaches of all trains. All new coaches may also be designed, irrespective of class, with a provision for litter box.

K. Muthiah,

Madurai.

Cement road

Many school students, besides the general public, use the Convent School Road leading to Naal Road in Palani. In the wake of recent rain, the metalled road is now in tatters with pits and humps. A large number of vehicles ply along this stretch during peak hours.

Will the authorities lay a cement road on this busy stretch?

K. Prithivi Selvan,

Palani.

Honour them

Sir, — At Velankanni and Nagapattinam, when nobody dared to handle decomposed bodies of tsunami victims, the so-called `scavenger community' people came forward to do the job. The society owes them a lot. The Government should honour this community and their men by a suitable award. This need not be in the form of money but some kind of an honour.

Francis G.Padamadan,

Madurai.

Postcard

The Postal Department does not allow posting of carbon copies of typed cards in the usual rate (50 paise). If by mistake we type any invitation in the postcard with carbon copy and post it, it invites a due of Rs. 11.

Will the department allow carbon copy of post cards in the usual rate?

M.R.Visweswaran,

Melmangalam.

Additional counter

In Sivakasi Railway Station, there is only one computerised Reservation counter. Sivakasi being a fast-developing industrial town, there is always a huge crowd for reservation/cancellation of tickets to Chennai and beyond and it takes almost 2 to 3 hours to get a ticket reserved or cancelled. This single counter also caters to travel agents/bulk bookers/physically handicapped/senior citizens, besides attending to enquiries about vacant positions. The public find it very difficult standing in long queues for hours together.

Hence it will be very useful and timesaving if an additional computerised reservation counter is opened especially for travel Agents/ bulk bookers / physically handicapped / senior citizens.

G. Jayaraman,

Thiruthangal.

Empty stomach ordeal

Sir, — At the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, scan facilities are available. In the CT scan section, one can take two types - plain and contrast. For taking contrast scans, patients should come with empty stomach. They are made to mingle with `plain-scan' patients. They are also made to wait for a long time for their turn with a hungry stomach resulting in fainting. Children and old people experience much difficulty. It would be helpful if the ones on empty stomach are given preference and sent earlier to enable them to take their food.

Further, the M.R.I. scan rates are equal to the private agency rates. It should be reduced in public interest.

A.R.Moorthy,

Madurai.

Weekend train to Bangalore

Sir, — Many belonging to Madurai and surrounding places work in Bangalore, especially in software firms. They find it very difficult to get reserved accommodation in trains to Madurai and beyond during holidays. Though special trains are run during Deepavali, Pongal and Christmas holidays, they do not meet the heavy rush.

At present, only one train is operated between Mysore and Tuticorin. But nearly seven regular trains, besides a weekly train and special trains, are run between Chennai and Madurai.

At least a weekly train may be operated between Mysore and Tuticorin during weekends.

R.Gopalakrishnan,

Madurai.

Nagercoil.

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