The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : MPs’ emoluments

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

MPs’ emoluments

Salary hike is perhaps the only issue on which the Members of Parliament maintain unanimity irrespective of party policies and differences. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s suggestion in 2005 that a separate mechanism be set up for fixing their pay may be considered at least now.

His suggestion is pragmatic in as much as these elected representatives are `public servants’ as defined by various courts long ago. Along with this, the long-pending issue of bringing them under the purview of public servants conduct rules should also be taken up, fixing inter alia the norms for their qualifications to befit their occupation. In the early days of Independence, there were cases of rejection of hike of emoluments by some MLAs in Andhra State itself, when the honorarium was Rs.150 a month.

N.V. Rama Rao,

Visakhapatnam

Night landing

At last, night landing has started from / to Visakhapatnam airport, a milestone in the history of Visakhapatnam Civil Aviation we are proud of. But the Navy’s excuse of shortage of manpower for not being able to take up night landing operations appears unconvincing. Indian Navy employs the maximum number of persons next only to Railways. It is understandable for any individual officer/establishment seeking additional staff for carrying out increased work, but when it comes to certain important jobs like Navy, Air force, and Army, they cannot plead shortage, however genuine the reason is.

We should be happy the Railway zones are not refusing to operate new trains on account of shortage of staff and Election Commission is not putting off elections for want of manpower. In the event of shortage, they can even hire/take staff on deputation, as the police do in case of riots and arson, when personnel are drawn on war footing from other establishments. Whatever the difficulties, the interests of the public cannot be ignored.

G. Prabhakara Sastry,

Visakhapatnam

Info on circular tour tickets

The zonal railway time tables normally published every July lack the most crucial passenger information like Circular Tour Journey facilities and details of Central Assistant Public Information Officers, Appellate authorities with their names, designations, contact land and mobile phone numbers, application fee and mode of payment., which is to be provided under the Right to Information Act.

While a lot of passengers like to make good use of their summer vacation by undertaking long distance tours with their families in more economical and comfortable circular tours, withholding of that most precious information causes anguish. I appeal to the railway authorities to ensure that all important information is made available in the railway time table books.

K. Ramireddi,

Kakinada

Consumers cheated

In most of the meat shops in the city, the consumers lose about 100 gm to 150 gm on purchase of one kg of meat due to false weighing with traditional balance. Meat is sold a much higher price irrespective of its quality. The authorities should take appropriate action to check this.

K. Sanjay,

Visakhapatnam

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