The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Reporter's Diary

SEEKING COMFORT and avoiding stress are important not only for people but also for animals.

Whether domesticated or living in the wild, animals are at ease only when they can move freely around, eat nutritious food and live in a clean environment.

"A cow that experiences a shock, or one in poor physical condition could stop producing milk for awhile," said the Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).

In an informal chat at the Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), he said that chickens experienced `transport stress' when carried upside down with their legs tied up, and sheep suffered discomfort when forced to crowd in restricted spaces.

Even pigs that were lashed for easy transport became victims of stress.

People who cared for farm animals ought to feed them regularly, clean up living areas, and ensure that they were able to rest comfortably, he said.

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THE OPENING up of the telecom sector to private entrepreneurs has brought benefits to the consumer i.e., in terms of rationalisation of tariff and value-added services.

But connectivity problems continue to haunt the subscribers. While the players blame it on the BSNL for not providing adequate ports, the BSNL points out that the cellular firms go in for additional ports or circuits only when congestion arises.

The worst of all problems is non-availability of connectivity to essential and emergency services like fire, ambulance and police control room.

If you witness an accident or a crime, even if you have a mobile, you would not be able to access any of these three-digit toll-free numbers like 100, 101, 102 or 103 that easily. Of late, many helplines have been started for women and children with phone numbers beginning with number one. So is the case with emergency four-digit numbers of hospitals. With a mobile, you would not be able to access any of them.

Only a few operators have been given access to these numbers and not all, say cellular service providers. Even to whom it was provided, not enough circuits or ports were available for easy access. Much red-tapism is involved in providing access to what is called in telecom parlance as level zero i.e., level one numbers. The BSNL says that it has nothing to do with access to level zero i.e., level one numbers; a policy decision was already taken to provide access to all operators. Then why the access has not been provided remains a million-dollar question.

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COIMBATORE IS plagued by the infamous `eight-o-clock' culture when it comes to music or dance concerts.

However good a concert, that is the time when those travelling by public transport start making a beeline to the door.

Though not many musicians are vocal in expressing their displeasure, some do. And, with a smile.

At a recent concert of T. M. Krishna at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, some rasikas tried to do what they have been doing all the time - getting up to leave during the thani avarthanam, when the accompanying artistes get to showcase their talent.

The singer caught hold of the mike and requested the audience to stay back. "You have stayed all this time. Ten more minutes, please."

They complied, but were soon on their feet when it was time for the Mangalam.

Krishna was quick to pick up the mike and announce again - "If the thani avarthanam took 10 minutes, this will take just a few seconds. Please wait." Needless to stay, the people sat through the entire concert!

* * *

(Contributed by

A.A. Michael Raj,

V.S. Palaniappan

& Subha J Rao)

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