The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Fate of HPF

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Fate of HPF

This refers to the news item ‘Govt. should extend a helping hand: HPF staff’ (Feb. 18). It is still a mystery how HPF, one of the giants among the public sector undertakings, not long ago, paled into insignificance. But it could be revived and strengthened to meet challenges from the private sector if the remaining employees take it as a challenge, placing duty above their rights. They should chalk out a convincing plan and approach those concerned with a spirit of dedication and with an eye on success at any cost.

P. U. Krishnan,

Ooty.

CBSE question paper

The announcement by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman Ashok Ganguly about the new pattern in the question papers for the CBSE examinations has shocked all students preparing for the Board examinations. There is no circular or notification in the official website of the CBSE too. I request the board to clarify the announcement.

V. Srinivasan

Hosur.

Customer is king

On February 4 I went to United India Insurance Company to have my mediclaim insurance policy renewed. The renewal was due on February 14. I found almost all staff members reading newspapers at 10.45 a.m. I went to a woman employee who gave the premium figure. Then I approached the cashier and got a receipt for the cheque. When I went to get the signed policy, an official told me to come on February 8. When I expressed my inability to come to the office again, he and a woman officer shouted at me. When I retaliated I got the signed policy immediately. Government/quasi government employees will do well to remember Gandhiji’s words: “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent upon us. We are dependent upon him. He is not interruption on work, he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider to our business, he is part of it. We are not doing him any favour by servicing him, he is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to do it.”

R.M. Palaniappan,

Coimbatore. .

Valentine’s Day

The current trend against Valentine’s Day is unfair. Whether the culture is western or eastern is immaterial. Every Indian citizen has a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution to adopt any culture which suits his/her fancy. No one can infringe on other person’s right. Fanatics should confine their views and actions to themselves and not impose them on others.

Pratap Gokuldas,

Coimbatore.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiris, the ‘Queen of mountains’, with its rich flora and fauna, beautiful lakes and salubrious weather, attracts a large number of visitors during the summer. Yet another rare attraction is the mountain railway from Mettupalayam to Ooty. It is an engineering marvel, the only one of its kind in the world and has been included in the world heritage sites. The State Government and the railways should work in tandem to make travel in the train more attractive. The track should be strengthened to avert soil erosion and also falling of boulders on the track. The train runs on coal and furnace oil. The possibility of electrification should be studied. Coaches in the train should be vestibuled. A pantry coach should be attached to the train.

M.R. Pillai,

Coimbatore.

Need amenities

Udumalpet bus stand requires basic amenities. Shops and vendors occupy most of the space. Passengers have little space either to stand or sit. Many representations to the authorities to provide plastic chairs or cement benches were of no avail.

G. Chandrasekaran,

Coimbatore.

Plastics hazards

It is good to see that the Corporation has woken up to the hazards of plastic wastes and is determined to curb the menace. But just declaring their use illegal will not stop the public and the traders from using them as long as they are available -- at a ridiculously low cost. Bernard Thangasamy,

Coimbatore.

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