The Hindu : New Delhi News : Railways’ ways

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 21, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Railways’ ways

Recently while travelling in a 2 AC coach by 2781 Swaran Jayanti Express, I had a very disgusting experience regarding supply of beddings.

This train runs between Mysore and Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi once a week. I boarded the train at Pune Junction on September 5 in Coach A1. On my berth lay a set of two linens, a blanket and a pillow. The condition of these items was so bad that I thought they had been used earlier and would now be replaced.

I asked the bedding attendant to replace these and was shocked to hear that it was a fresh lot. Dissatisfied, I complained to the TTE, who expressed his inability to help me, saying that the supply of beddings was no more with the Railways: it has been outsourced to the IRCTC and I should lodge a complaint with them.

I told him that Pune has already earned the dubious distinction of maximum swine flu deaths and supply of unwashed linen and pillow-covers would further jeopardise the passengers’ health. He advised me to request the bedding attendant to change the unwashed pieces. To my surprise, I found stacks of washed, clean and well-ironed linens, pillow-covers and hand-towels in the store. I almost forced him to replace the unwashed linens. I compelled him to give me a clean hand-towel, a luxury no other passenger in the coach enjoyed.

Supply of unwashed linen is not only a very bad practice but a potential source of infections. It is already well known that the Railways get the blankets cleaned only once a month. Would the authorities arrange to stop this unhealthy malpractice forthwith?

S. K. Kulshrestha,

9, Old Survey Road, Dehra Dun – 248 001.

Pension, please…..

I served the Postal Department for 38 long years — more than 28 years as an Extra Departmental staff and nine years and eight months as a Postman. If an Extra Departmental employee serves the department for at least ten years on being made a postman, he becomes eligible for getting pension.

I joined service on March 20, 1973, and was promoted as a postman on May 21, 1991. In the same capacity, I served at Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir Circle. As per the rules, I am short of the stipulated eligibility period by just two months for which I am being deprived of any pension whatsoever.

I am a poor retired man with many liabilities which include two unemployed sons and one unmarried daughter. After putting in so many years of sincere service, I expect a pension from the Government and request that my case be considered for this.

I even lodged a complaint at the Pensioners’ Portal in July this year and as per rules I was to be informed within 30 working days. But to this day I have not received any reply. I pray to the higher postal authorities in New Delhi to kindly consider my case and extend to me the benefit of pension.

Mohammad Akram Mir,

S/o Gh. Qadir Mir, Ratnipora, Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir.

Hello, MTNL…..

My MTNL telephone (No. 29984216) was out of order for nearly two months from July 2 to August 31and was set right after The Hindu took note of it in these columns. I had also written to the President about my problem. To my surprise now, instead of getting compensation for the said period, I have received bills from MTNL for both the months.

To add insult to injury, a machine called the other day to announce that the phone would be disconnected unless I pay the bills. Pay the bills for the period when the phone was dead! Will the MTNL realise its folly and make amends now?

Anil Mathur,

82 A/A, 14 Himgiri Apartments, Kalkaji Extension, New Delhi – 110019.

How about this?

I believe that everything in this world has some purpose and can be used in some way or the other. Also, being a science student, I believe science can provide a solution to each and every problem.

Ocean water and deserts, both available to humankind in plenty, are not being used to their potential. Can’t we tap these infinite resources to generate employment? It just needs some innovation on the part of our scientists. Nothing’s impossible. Deepak Singh,

107-C, Pocket J&K, Dilshad Garden, Delhi – 110 095.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section