The Hindu : New Delhi News : An eyewash

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Monday, Mar 03, 2008
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New Delhi

New Delhi

An eyewash

Just a day after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit assured the Capital’s citizens that there would be no increase in power tariffs, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission announced a hike of five paise per unit for all power consumers across the board. The very next day Power Minister Ashok Walia announced that domestic and agricultural consumers would be exempted from the proposed hike. Basically, all this points to a game of vote bank politics.

Ms. Dikshit is just trying to regain the goodwill and support of Delhiites which her government had lost because of issues like sealing.

With the general elections scheduled for April-May 2009 if not earlier, announcements like de-sealing of illegal properties and relief for domestic and agricultural sectors from power tariff hikes and the like are nothing but gimmicks to try and remain in power.

Sachin Bharadwaj,

266A-2/2 Bhuiyan Chowk, Mehrauli, New Delhi – 110 030.

Food for thought

It has almost become our habit to look West-ward whenever we need to solve a compelling problem. However, we need to re-think our strategy as answers are within us; all that is needed is some introspection.In Vrindavan and neighbouring areas, “Akshay Patra”, true to its name of being an inexhaustible source of nutrition, is engaged in a path-breaking venture strengthened by the power of simplicity. It is a mammoth mid-day meals scheme for school children which functions with precision for 93,000 kids studying in schools. A wholesome steam-cooked meal, untouched by hands, is distributed through vans in the neighbouring districts everyday. Akshay Patra has the capacity to dish out one lakh meals a day.

Teachers at Kusum Sarovar School, Govardhan, and several others vouch for this nourishing meal and indeed children there are growing well, with “healthy minds in healthy bodies”.

It might sound presumptuous but how about having a hundred such Akshay Patras in and around Delhi providing one crore lunches for all schools, colleges, offices, shops and even homes? While the rich may have costly add-ons, the daily wage earners or Below Poverty Line people cannot in the normal run get anything better for Rs.10. Something like Akshay Patra would be a boon for everyone. It saves fuel energy, is environment-friendly, provides employment, and, above all, is an economical “sanjha chulha” – common kitchen, if you please. Some corporates with a sense of social responsibility and parliamentarians can pitch in to accomplish this task. We cannot afford to plan everything up to the Commonwealth Games alone. Children are like stars -- “Taare Zameen Par”. Let them shine as the country has to strive and achieve much more and far beyond the 2010 Games.

Dr. Aarati Saxena,

Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University, New Delhi.

Hello, Vodafone….

I have a Vodafone pre-paid connection (No. 9759925719), which has become a source of harassment for me. On December 31, 2007, I sent six SMSs but to my surprise as much as Rs.30 was deducted from my balance. On February 24, 2008, I sent a national SMS for which I was charged Rs.4 instead of the fixed rate of Rs.2.

This apart, every time I get an incoming call the call drops. Despite several visits to the Vodafone outlet my problem has not been sorted out yet.

They always have some explanation ready to justify what they have done.

I request the Vodafone authorities to stop exploiting their customers this way.

Arif Mohammed Yeasin Jwadder,

Room No.067, Allama Iqbal Hall, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh – 202 002.

Assam calling

I am surprised to see that an intervention by Raj Thackeray’s party against the movement of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Maharashtra has attracted so much media coverage and immediate Government attention, while the same cause for which ULFA in Assam has been raising its voice for long has not been tackled the way it should have been. The struggle has been on for years and there is still no visible relief.

I am originally from Delhi but now that I am studying here and have witnessed the situation myself, I completely empathise with the people of Assam and condemn the callous attitude of all the previous and present governments towards the North-East. It is time for some positive action.

Aashish Goel,

Room No. B3-214, Hostel Kameng, IIT-Guwahati, Assam – 781 039.

MTNL responds

This is with reference to Shashi Saxena’s letter, “Hello, MTNL….”, in these columns on February 11. Ms. Saxena had booked an IPTV connection this past November 11 on her telephone No. 26741174 (Booking No. 55400007), which has not been installed so far. After looking into the matter we found that the telephone number is technically not fit for an IPTV connection as it lies beyond the permissible limits — up to 3 km at present. We shall, however, make an effort to install it in future.

J. P. Sharma,

Public Relations Officer (Media), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, First Floor, Eastern Court, New Delhi -110 001.

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