The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 05, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

Hidden shock

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has finally rolled back the controversial increase in power charges across the Capital and all seems well. But it is not quite so.

As against the 10 per cent increase in power charges that led to so much hue and cry all round, what is called "fixed charges" has quietly been raised by about Rs.20 per month. For instance, I'll be paying Rs. 22 extra every month for no extra benefit at all. Imagine the crores of rupees the private power distribution companies would be raising through this (authorised?) hike. Will the discoms or the Delhi Administration explain this increase in "fixed charges" that no one seems to have noticed?

Ms. Sheila Dikshit has said that the discoms, whose performance in reducing transmission losses was found not satisfactory, have been told to show improvement. Why not the Delhi Administration issue a comparative statement about the performance of the three discoms?

To promote sales of their products like cars, TV sets and cell phones, manufactures take out huge advertisements to emphasise how their products are better than those of their competitors. If BRPL has hesitation in doing this, why not NDPL come out and advertise its achievements over the past three years compared with the targets given to them?

Lastly, why are Tata Power and Reliance Energy shy of using their prestigious names when it comes to their Delhi distribution companies? Are they afraid that their prestige will suffer as a result of the adverse publicity their discoms here in the Capital are getting? Or is there a "catch" (legal/financial?) in this matter?

S. C. Anantharaman,

B-92, Gulmohar Park,

New Delhi - 110 049.

Come September 7

To condemn an assault on two Miranda House students by their landlord, more than 250 students of the college demonstrated at the Maurice Nagar police station and at the landlord's house on August 26 and were successful in pressurising the police to register an FIR and arrest the accused.

It is not just about the safety of these two students, but in the wake of this incident there is an urgent need to focus on the safety of hundreds of outstation students of Delhi University, especially the women students. With this agenda, the teaching-learning organisations of various institutions of DU have joined hands and expressed their support and solidarity at a meeting organised by the Miranda House Women's Development Cell and the College Complaints Committee on August 30.

All those present at the meeting were of the opinion that the University should take up responsibility for the safety of its students, especially the women students, and make all efforts to build more hostels in and around the campus. The University should also develop a data-base of landlords willing to work in collaboration with the University to provide safe accommodation to students.

The University should also formulate a standard contract including a rent ceiling and other such conditions between landlords and students, which would be uniformly followed by all the students who live in paying guest accommodation.

A memorandum listing all these demands and other grievances of the students will be handed over to the Vice-Chancellor this coming Wednesday, September 7, by a procession of students and teachers of various institutions of Delhi University. All those who feel concerned can join the procession which will set out from Miranda House at 11-30 a.m.

Delhi has become one of the most unsafe cities, particularly for women. There is an urgent need for Delhi University to take a strong stand and ensure the safety of all its students who live in several residential areas adjacent to the campus.

Sneha Banerjee,

B.A.(Honours) Political

Science II Year,

Women's Development Cell,

Miranda house,

Delhi University,

Delhi - 110 007.

No ragging here

The recent harassment of junior boarders by seniors in a college under Delhi University has been a topic of discussion in R.C.C 3 Boys' hall at Guwahati University.

It is not fear and suspicion that haunt students of Guwahati University wanting to join Dr. Banikanta Kakoti R.C.C 3 Boys' hall, for the hostel is well known for its anti-ragging principles. It has got a model "Code of Conduct", and every boarder abides by it. As per the Code, no senior boarder harasses the freshers either physically or emotionally. On the other hand, the seniors underscore social and emotional enrichment of the freshers. That paves the way for a congenial atmosphere and sense of brotherhood that prevail here 24/7. These attributes make it a prize hostel and make every occupant feel at home. The toughest job imposed on the freshers is to memorise the name of every bona fide boarder in the hostel. However, it is worth mentioning that the reason for making such an imposition is to make everyone know each other and cultivate a feeling of brotherhood. There should be no room for ragging in hostels and educational institutions.

Kamdev Basumatary,

Department of Communication & Journalism,

Guwahati University,

Guwahati.

Haryana doesn't pay

It is a matter of sorrow that the primary school teachers appointed by the Haryana Government in December last year have not been paid even a single salary so far. The Haryana Government gives only assurances month after month instead of salary. It is neither fair nor just to treat the teachers like this.

It has become impossible for the poor teachers to survive. The Haryana Government is requested to solve this problem soonest.

Primary school teachers

of Haryana,

Chandigarh.

(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".)

B-92, Gulmohar Park,

New Delhi - 110 049.

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