The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : They carry on, regardless

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

They carry on, regardless

AT A time when there is a campaign for polythene carry-bags-free environment, it is the most sought after mode of packing at any shop here.

Carry-bags are a major irritant for the Guntur Municipal Corporation as these bags clog open drains forcing it to deploy a large number of people to clean them. Any amount of awareness campaign does not result in any reduction of number of carry-bags used. Despite a ban on use of lower gauge of polythene for manufacture and use of carry-bags, they are available in abundance in the market.

The most visible violation is on the streets where fruit vendors use thin polythene bags and that too under the hoarding of the A.P. Pollution Control Board, which bans use of such bags.

* * *

V. R. Narla was a legend in the history of journalism in Andhra Pradesh. A sub-editor working for a daily, when Narla was its editor, used to get a letter or two once in three days. Obviously, the sub-editor was green with envy over his boss, for he gets a lot of mail. Unable to resist his feelings, he said to one of his colleagues, who had a spontaneous wit: "I am jealous of the editor. He gets a lot of post every day." Then the witty colleague quipped: "You try for his post. Then, you will also get a lot of post," sending everyone around into peals of laughter.

* * *

THEY ARE the ones who have stood like a rock behind the growth of a famous institution and who leave no stone unturned in furthering its cause. These champions of Siddhartha educational institutions have done a lot and yet they have a burning desire to do more. It is this urge that seems to goad them and be active despite advancing age. Hear them carefully at any given platform, the treasurer of Siddhartha Academy, P.L.N. Prasad, and the secretary, Mummaneni Subba Rao, are sure to come up with their pet theme -- a demand for true autonomy.

Their contention remains that though an autonomous institution, Siddhartha is unable to meet certain changing requirements of students. It is because there is no freedom to introduce new syllabus and change curriculum to fit the emerging competition. The presence of a VIP in the field of education is enough for them to air this view loud and clear.

The Siddhartha office-bearers are advocating full autonomy with a mission so that they aim at their future plans to match standards on a par with international institutions. These are the days of privatisation and globalisation. To be in demand, one has to be competitive -- an oft-heard mantra for today's students.

* * *

By Ramesh Susarla
in Guntur and
A. Saye Sekhar and
G. Ravikiran
in Vijayawada

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They carry on, regardless