The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Make payments hassle-free

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Monday, Sep 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Make payments hassle-free

One of my monthly income scheme (MIS) deposits with Pathapatnam post office in Srikakulam district matured on August 28 this year. Since the interest is linked to recurring deposit accounts, I requested the post master to transfer the amount to my savings bank account to facilitate reinvestment. The post master expressed his inability and the Superintendent of Post Offices, when contacted, referred to an order of the erstwhile British Government prohibiting payment of cash in excess of Rs.20,000. Payment through cheque means, going by past experience, a neat two months delay besides recovery of cheque collection charges. In fact, the transaction involved an entry each in the ledgers of MIS account and the savings bank account. Hardly, a 15 minute job as is done in any rural bank at no cost. Since MIS deposits come from senior citizens, many of whom are in constant need of cash, it is inhuman to hold them to ransom by depriving them of their own money under the pretext of an obsolete rule.

They have every right to demand cash on the date of maturity of the bonds. Will the postal department wake up to the reality and update the rules in tune with the fast changing times and facilitate easy transactions?

Padala Simhachalam

Srikakulam

Neglected lot

We appreciate the efforts of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who is trying to better the lot of each and every section in the society. But the plight of the homeguards seems to escape his attention. They remain a neglected lot as the Government is treating them as private security guards and they are paid only Rs.100 a day. How can the home guards run the family, educate their children and meet health needs with such a paltry amount? I appeal to the Government to increase their salary, promote them to the post of constable taking their experience into consideration, implement housing scheme, and extend medical, provident fund and ESI benefits to them.

Pradeep Kumar

Visakhapatnam

Open railway ticket counters

Tirumala temple is visited by thousands of devotees every day. Though certain seva and accommodation tickets are issued in advance, still there are many who do not get them.

In view of the heavy rush, the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam management should construct more. It should also open railway reservation facility at TTD branch counters in major cities to enable pilgrims book both railway and seva/darshan tickets.

K. Sri Rama Murthy

Vizianagaram

Speed up work at Maddilapalem Junction

Maddilapalem Junction on the National Highway No. 5 is a veritable death trap for two-wheeler riders and commuting by autorickshaws. This fact is known to the municipal corporation, the traffic police and the National Highway Authorities of India. A year ago, a revised model was approved by the police and the NHAI. It envisages relocation of the traffic lights and power lines, laying of roads to allow entry into Pithapuram Colony and other areas directly without violating one-way rule from all sides. The power lines were relocated more than six months back. But the work on demolishing the existing traffic islands, etc., remained static. NHAI authorities say that Rs.32 lakhs was given to a contractor who had failed to execute the work, which would now be entrusted to another. It is requested that the authorities act immediately on this and resolve the issue.

G.M. Rama Rao

Visakhapatnam

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Andhra Pradesh