Post offices precariously poised
This refers to your news item “India Post organises National post week” (October10) There is no second opinion about the postal service in our country. However, at the moment, most post offices are in a dangerous zone, at least in the Vasai-Virar area. Most of the postmen are above 50 years and find it very difficult to perform their duties. The population of the region is over twenty lakh and no progress in the service in that order. Throughout India, there is the rule that before posting magazines or weeklies, publishers have to give correct figures of the copies to the nearest post office from where issues are dispatched, by paying directly to the post office. However, this rule has been amended only in Maharashtra circle. According to the amendment, all publishers are now required to affix a stamp on every copy, and this has put small publishers in a bind, as additional manpower is required for affixing stamps. Why has the postal department singled out the state? The said amended rule must be made applicable throughout the country or should be withdrawn from Maharashtra circle.
-Marcus Dabre, Papdy, Vasai.
No place like home
for senior citizens
This refers to the report, ‘Home for aged fined for neglecting its inmate’ (October 7). It is not necessary to admit the family member to an old age home – the family can very well employ ward boys from the bureaus, and give the affected member home care. I have learnt this from my experience, when I took care of my late bedridden elder brother, who was suffering from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The person in the report paid lakhs of rupees to the old age home, but still received deficient service. One needs accessories like adult diapers, latex gloves, antiseptic solution, bedsheet rubber, a hospital bed with backrest and all these could be very well provided by the family to the patient at home. These items are available at Dawa Bazaar, at much lower prices, than locally. India does not have even a single home for bedridden patients — this could be a unique CSR initiative by the corporate sector. Old age homes prefer mobile patients – you go to a ‘Vruddhashram’, and the first question is whether the patient is mobile or not. If he/she is bedridden, the answer is a no. In Ulhasnagar, people are generous ,and they provide a tiffin service to senior citizens in an old age home in Camp Number Five, which is run by a famous trust. In Bandra,there is an old age home for terminally-ill cancer patients. An old person needs little help from the family, apart from the love and affection, and it is ingrained in our culture to take care of aged parents and bedridden family members.
– Deendayal M Lulla
Round-the-clock safety first, night life can wait
Much has been spoken on the subject of night life in Mumbai and as a supporting factor, we are told, if New York has a night life, why not Mumbai. First of all, the comparison of Mumbai with New York is not apt, as many things that happen in Mumbai do not happen in New York. It would be better if the youth brigade, seeking a night life make Mumbai safer in daytime, for starters. Consider our day-to-day lives — not a day goes by without stories of murder, robbery, molestation and rape, the latter crime not sparing babies, children, females of all ages. First establish safety and security for ordinary citizens, then we can speak about a night life for this city.
-S S Nair, Dindoshi
Misuse of Kalyan Rly Stn premises
It is observed that there is no security on Platform Nos 2 and 3(Kasara- end) at Kalyan Railway Station. Anyone can enter from this end unchecked and endanger the security of passengers.
Also, beggars and drug addicts use this end of the platform for sleeping. One is likely to be penalised by ticket checkers for travelling without a ticket, so how come these non-ticketed entities occupy, nay, misuse the station premises?
-Nandakumar Jay
Shelters near BEST stops
This has reference to the letter of Shri S. Ravichandran published in your newspaper (on July 3), under the heading ‘Bus stop shelters would be most welcome.’ In this connection, this is to inform that the bus queue shelters at the Eastern Express Highway are provided by MMRDA. At majority of the bus stops where adequate passengers are available, MMRDA has constructed bus queue shelters. In Thane area, on Ghodbunder Road, TMT has constructed bus queue shelters and it is their operational jurisdiction. BEST has provided bus stop poles near these shelters, so the passengers can wait for buses at these shelters. Similarly in Mira Bhayander and Navi Mumbai areas, BEST has provided poles close to the shelters of MBMT and NMMT, respectively, so that the passengers waiting for BEST buses can use these shelters. In addition, the passengers have the facility of both transport from the same bus stop.
-Virendra Bagul, PRO, BEST
Indiscriminate felling of trees
Ever since reports have appeared that trees have fallen during monsoon and an occasional casualty has occurred, people have started looking at trees with suspicion. On the slightest excuse, people and housing societies seek permission to cut trees. The excuse being a dead tree, or an unstable tree. It must be realised that growing trees has become extremely difficult. The soil is contaminated with leakage from underground pipes and the water table has shrunk. As a result, trees are difficult to grow. ‘Transplanted’ trees remain thin and fall easily. I feel when permission is sought to cut a tree, it must only be given if the applicant agrees to plant a tree. We are fast losing our green cover, without which, our survival is threatened. The new tree must be planted before the old tree is cut.
-P Madhok, Mumbai
Long wait for Aadhaar
I had applied for an Aadhaar card as far back as October 21, 2012, vide Enrolment No . 1177/ 70036/ 00800. The enrolment slip clearly states that the card will be posted within 60-90 days. However, although more than ten months have elapsed, I have not yet received the card.
I hereby request the concerned authorities – the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)- to look into the matter and expedite despatch without any further loss of time.
-Krishnan S. Aiyar, Dombivli
Letters for this column may be sent to fpjcity@gmail.com or they could be posted to Vox Populi, The Free Press Journal, Free Press House, Free Press Marg, 215 Nariman Point,
Mumbai – 400021. Fax: 22874688.
