The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Offering solutions for all ills!

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Offering solutions for all ills!

Does ‘Art of Living’ have something to help the politicians? Founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who was in the city the other day, was confronted with the query. In his inimitable style, the Guru smiled and said, “Why not?” “If they approach, we will be glad to do that.” Will its breathing exercises help atheists? “Yes, atheists, sinners and all can benefit from this,” he smiled. What is the solution to the rampan t corruption in the contemporary society? Among others, the Guru prescribed that politics should be spiritual and business gain a hue of social responsibility.

Though the occasion was an exclusive interaction with the media, some followers did join in and used the opportunity to seek advice for their woes.

And these included a frail and elderly woman who asked if she can touch his feet.

People giving long winding speeches without concern for others’ time is nothing new. Putting across one’s point succinctly without boring the audience is the need of the hour as an Arya Samaji showed at the International Arya Mahasammelan held here the other day. He just spoke for a minute and rounded off with a witty remark.

A ‘vakta’ (speaker) should not become a ‘bakta’ (chatter box) as the ‘shrota’ (audience) will then become ‘sota’ (sleepy).

This evoked a round of applause.

The Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences could not have asked for a better way to spread the word about its dedicated Centre for Breast Diseases including cancer.

Union Minister of State for Woman and Child Welfare Renuka Choudhary not only inaugurated the centre with the latest cutting edge technology last week, but convincingly underscored the need for undergoing screening tests for breast cancer.

“Nothing is more precious than your own health,” she told women. “My passion as a politician other than surviving electoral mathematics is to genuinely do something that can improve lives of women and their health is on top of my agenda. Breast cancer can be treated 100 per cent if detected early,” she added.

Ms. Choudhary also urged the hospital authorities to give a substantial discount in the screening fee for women to encourage them to come to the centre. KIMS readily extended a 50 per cent discount in fee for three months from March 8 to May 8.

The face-to-face programme of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, launched with much fanfare and promise, seems to be losing steam. One can make this out by looking at the body-language and also from the cold and impassive faces of officials from various civic bodies.

During the initial meetings, officials were literally going overboard to impress one and all.

They even made it a point to send officials concerned within an hour of the complaint being received or even within a day.

No matter the next day was a Sunday, but they made sure officials reached the ground zero.

Things are different these days. Every complaint received is being invariably posted to Monday.

There have been callers who have started complaining that despite their complaints registered during previous face-to-face programmes, they are still suffering. May be it’s time to review the whole exercise again.

Delay in starting a programme is always tiresome, but at times it can be beneficial and this was evident at a school building inauguration programme in Alwal. Minister for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan M. Hanumantha Rao, who was the chief guest, came to the venue almost two hours late as against the scheduled time, while Secunderabad MP M. Anjan Kumar Yadav had reached on time.

Sensing an opportunity as Mr. Yadav sat idle waiting for the meeting to commence, people living in the nearby slums flocked to him and organised an impromptu meeting to explain the problems faced by them. Mr. Yadav gave a patient hearing and assured to organise a meeting with the officials concerned.

T. LALITH SINGH,

J.S. IFTHEKHAR,

M.L. MELLY MAITREYI,

M. SAI GOPAL,

M. SRINIVAS

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