The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 18, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

LIC's ways

Early this year, the Life Insurance Corporation of India, which had been sending me post-dated interest cheques, invited me to opt for its Electronic Clearance Scheme (ECS).

I was told that I would be spared the trouble of depositing cheques in the bank because the money due on my policies would be credited directly to my bank account at the beginning of each month.

I opted for the scheme, naively thinking that the LIC would stand by what it had written.

Interest on one policy was first credited to my account on March 1. Later dates were April 2, May 3, June 8 and July 7. This must be called progress.

Interest on a second policy was first credited on July 7. That on a third policy is to begin to be credited in August, and I am waiting to see if the LIC patriotically chooses Independence Day.

Two policies will remain, interest on which is to begin to come in October, and I am hoping that it will reach my bank before that month ends. In my 82 years I have learnt that too much progress is not always a good thing.

Professor Leela Dube,

D-504 Purvasha,

Mayur Vihar 1,

Delhi - 110 091.

Missing V-C

Lakshmi B. Ghosh's "Campus Jottings" column of July 14, written on the eve, as it were, of Delhi University's reopening on July 16 for its 2005-2006 academic session, fails to note that the country's premier campus remains headless even as new challenges await it in the new academic year.

Prof. Deepak Nayyar demitted office in mid-May when his term as Vice-Chancellor expired. Prof. C. R. Babu, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, then held the fort till he too retired in June, to be followed by the Dean of Colleges, Dr. Kiran Datar, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

In the case of Jawaharlal Nehru University, on the other hand, the Search Committee made its recommendations and the Director of the Institute of Economic Growth, Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya, was promptly installed as the JNU Vice-Chancellor.

In Delhi University's case, the Visitor, President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, has reportedly suggested that the Search Committee recommend a wider panel, but the Search Committee members have been unable to meet as they are abroad.

Surely in these days of instant communication it should not be difficult for them to communicate with each other and suggest a wider panel so that Delhi University gets a new Vice-Chancellor soon?

Vinod Chowdhury,

Reader in Economics,

St. Stephen's College,

Delhi University,

Delhi - 110 007.

Water crisis

At the end of March this year the Delhi Jal Board announced that consumers who have not installed a water meter should go in for one by the 30th of September 2005 or else they would be punished by imposition of heavy penalty.

I for one took the initiative and got a meter installed on April 12. Now to my utter dismay, I have received a swollen bill calculated on "average basis".

Why? The reasons are best known to the Jal Board authorities and the Delhi Government, which boasts of "good governance" all the time.

I have actually received two bills so far since the installation of the meter and both are calculated on "average basis".

The reason they have officially mentioned in the bills, "Premises locked", is a blatant lie as I am a retired man and my wife is a housewife and our house is never locked.

Now a question arises: Who should be punished? The consumer? Or the Jal Board authorities for failing to comply with the empty promises of the Delhi Government? I would expect the Delhi Jal Board to issue corrected bills to me now.

Sailen Basu,

NU-99 A, Pitampura,

Delhi - 110 088.

Hello, Airtel....

I took an Airtel cellular phone connection (No.98104-66938) under the Central Government Employees' Scheme for one year in November 2004 for which I paid an yearly advance rent of Rs.900.

I have diligently paid all my monthly bills so far. The bill for 2-5-2005 to 1-6-2005 (Rs. 528.54) was paid through a crossed cheque (No.680770) dated 10-6-2005 in favour of Bharti Cellular Ltd. A/c No.102-100957911 and was cleared on 14-6-2005, well before the due date of 18-6-2005.

To my utter surprise and shock, company executives started sending SMS messages and calling me up to say that my bill for the period 2-5-2005 to 1-6-2005 still remained unpaid and my outgoing connection got blocked.

Since I had already paid the amount and it had been cleared from my bank account, I met the Customer Care Executive at the Airtel office in M-Block of Connaught Place and handed over a photocopy of my Bank A/c statement showing that the cheque paid to them had been cleared.

I was assured that the bill would be settled within six days and given an Inquiry No. (9810910909).

But suddenly on July 4 my phone was disconnected. I sent a registered letter (RL No.8431) to their office in New Delhi on July 6. Instead of receiving a reply from them, I have received an exaggerated bill dated 3.7.2005 for Rs.897.92.

I have been cheated by the company in spite of having regularly paid all my bills on time.

I appeal to the authorities concerned to take necessary action so that innocent customers like me do not fall a victim to such spurious schemes.

Rosamma Mathew,

R.No.359-F,

Rail Bhavan,

New Delhi - 110 001.

Son of India

The demise of H. D. Shourie, social reformer and crusader extraordinary, is an irreparable loss for the present generation. In the luminescent galaxy of social reformers, H. D. Shourie occupies a pivotal position for espousing with sheer hard work and brilliant stewardship a vast range of public issues affecting the common citizen.

This noble and illustrious son of India should be honoured posthumously with Bharat Ratna.

L. C. Kaul,

D-40, Pamposh Enclave,

New Delhi - 110 048.

So many crores!

According to newspaper reports, a bungalow in Delhi is on sale for a whopping Rs. 150 crores. Delhi must have become the costliest city in the world to live in one's own house in comfort!

Mahesh Kumar,

Kolaba Chambers,

C-25/5, Connaught Place,

New Delhi - 110 001

(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 "Reader's Mail".)

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