The Hindu : New Delhi News : Panic in Aligarh

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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New Delhi

Panic in Aligarh

After Delhi it seems Aligarh has become the bedrock of criminals. Not a day passes without a sensational robbery. Loot and plunder are the order of the day.

The police, as in Bollywood films, always arrive late at the crime scene. Because of their inefficiency and the consequent increase in crime, many people are scared to step out of home after evening.

The situation is worrisome as many households here consist of “women only” families; the sons and husbands are settled and working in another city or abroad. The police need to take urgent steps to ensure safety of these vulnerable women.

Will the police ever rise from their deep slumber? Will those living in the ivory towers ever think about the plight of the common people and their safety?

Ms. Shadaan Alam,

Moshir House, Street 4, Greater Azad Enclave, Aligarh.

A good idea?

I have three Idea cellular connections: 9891598820, 9911144680 and 9911598820. Since November last year I have been facing a major connectivity problem. I fail to get the network on my phones in subways, basements and sometimes even inside the house.

I contacted the Idea management and they assured me that they would fix the problem soon. In February this year they sent a network team to detect the fault. The team in its report mentioned that there was a severe problem of network and therefore they would install a booster at my residence. The booster, they said, would rectify the fault and provide undisturbed service thereafter.

More than seven months have passed since but the matter remains unattended. My problem of poor network persists and the service provider has done nothing about it. It is time they stopped trying to fool their customers with false promises. I look forward to a solution now.

Jeetendra Kumar,

C-1, Rose Apartments, Sector 14 Extension, Rohini, Delhi – 110 085.

Calling UTI

I surrendered my US 64 tax-free bonds (Investor ID No. 90632957, 93267788 and 101868419) for repayment after they matured on June 1 this year. The bonds were duly endorsed with signatures and I indicated “no change’ in my bank details.

The proceeds against ID 101868419 went directly to my bank account; for ID 93267788 a cheque was sent by registered post to my residence with a note saying that the company would not be responsible if the cheque got lost in transit or was credited elsewhere.

For ID 90632957 I received a letter by ordinary post saying that my signature did not tally. I was asked to get the signature verified by my bankers.

I got it verified by my bank and despatched it by courier on June 6.

Since then I have made numerous calls and sent faxes to UTI Technology Services in Mumbai, but the funds are yet to be deposited in my account. It is strange that my signature differed only in one of the three certificates (for the larger amount of around Rs.8 lakh)! Moreover, where is the need for the signature to be tallied when the proceeds are to be sent directly to the bank account where the interest on the bond was being credited regularly for the past five years?

To me this appears to be a ploy to delay payment. I hope UTI Technology Services transfer the amount immediately to my account. I am a senior citizen aged 77 and I wish to have my funds at my disposal for emergencies.

R. S. K. Ratnam,

D-3/3602, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110 070.

Creamy layer

Discussions are under way at the Centre on raising the income threshold for the so-called creamy layer in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to exclude it from the benefit of reservation so that the maximum number of OBCs can benefit from it. Press reports indicate that the threshold is likely to be raised to Rs.5 lakh per year.

In order to justify this decision and in the wake of the unprecedented price rise, it would be appropriate to equate the “no income-tax slab limit” with the threshold limit for the creamy layer.

Sushma Goyal,

37, Power Colony 1, Model Town, Patiala – 147 001.

Quota raj

The Rajasthan Government’s flawed appeasement policy of extending reservation to Gujjars in State Government jobs might in all likelihood meet its nemesis in the upcoming State Assembly elections.

Meanwhile those who do not make it to the reservation basket and are in the race for public employment, which is akin to the battle of David against Goliath, would do well to persevere in their efforts. Because if they don’t succeed they can ascribe it to the reservation maze; and if they do succeed, it would be a triumph worthy of the proverbial three cheers.

Shubha Gupta,

Jagatpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

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