The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 11, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

Think of them

Big and mighty companies like Reliance, ITC and Subhiksha are entering India's retail sector with a bang. One is forced to ponder about the future of small roadside vegetable sellers, retailers and shopkeepers.

The new companies have a huge financial back-up to beat any competition or barriers. They are in a position to absorb even huge losses initially, but their break-even period is far less as compared to the smaller units trying to enter the industry. The question is who would think of the interests of the small-time vendors who would be adversely affected. Who would feed their families?

The Government should seriously think it over keeping the objective of maximisation of social welfare in mind.

Tarun Shree,

House No.304,Sector-15,

Panchkula - 134 113.

Bus to nowhere

Travelling from Dehra Dun to Delhi on the 24th of May, we boarded a bus from UTC Dehra Dun Depot -- UA 07J6678 -- at 2-30 p.m. The ticket per head cost Rs.350. From the very start of the journey, the bus engine got unusually heated up. The bus was stopped after every hour to pour water in order to cool the fuming engine. At the midway stop at Cheetal Park in Khatauli, the engine refused to start.

An elderly lady complained to the Ticket Collector that it was unfair to render such poor service at such high price. The TC shrugged off his responsibility stating that he was a mere employee and not the owner of the bus. The lady contacted the bus owner, Mr. Negi, who washed his hands of the matter.

The problem with the engine persisted even as the bus approached Meerut. We insisted that the TC make alternative arrangements or return the fare to us. The TC continued trying to pass the buck to the owner but finally, after much argument, he refunded the money.

We would like to ask the higher authorities at UTC Depot, Uttarakhand, why despite charging exorbitant fares they can't ensure safety and comfort for the passengers?

On what basis does the Government keep giving contracts to such callous bus owners who imperil the life and limbs of passengers by running ill-managed buses?

Jigyasa Meena, Ranjana Das, Rachna Mehra,

School of Social Sciences,

Jawaharlal Nehru University,

Delhi - 110 067.

Hello, BSNL....

I applied to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for a landline telephone connection with S.T.D. facility on 17-11-2003, depositing a sum of Rs.2000 with S.D.E.(Phones), Anpara, Sonebhadra, falling under Mirzapur telecom district of U.P.(East). As a token of acknowledgment I was handed over Demand Note No.NTC/SKT/GNL/68/ 2 dt.17-11-2003 and Receipt No.XYZ0033118 dt.17-11-2003. When for more than two years I did not hear anything from BSNL, I sent a letter by registered post (No. 1616 dt. 31-03-2006) to S.D.E.(Phones), Anpara, Sonebhadra, requesting for cancellation of my application and refund of my security deposit with accrued interest.

Again I did not get any response. From the BSNL website (bsnl.co.in) I noted an e-mail Id (ddgpg@bsnl.co.in) of one Deputy Director-General, Sudhir Kumar. It was meant for grievance redressal. I e-mailed my grievance on 19-03-2007 but got no response. Other e-mail Ids (pgupe@bsnl.co.in and rs_pandey@bsnl.co.in) meant for grievance redressal were also tried but to no avail.

So around three and a half years later I am still waiting for a refund.

It shocks me to recall the response of a local linesman to my informal queries. Whenever I asked him whether any instruction had come for a new connection, he would say bluntly that I would never get it until I pay bribes to his officer. It was in 2004. In 2007, I do not find any reason to disbelieve his blunt warning.

Is there no punishment for such lapses?

Ramesh Kumar Singh,

C-68,

Khadia Colony(N.C.L.),

P.O. Shaktinagar,

District Sonebhadra (U.P.)

Shahdara calling

For years railway passengers have been facing a lot of inconvenience due to lack of proper platform sheds at Shahdara Junction. At present 93 trains stop here and more than 50,000 commuters are using this station daily. But there are no facilities for the passengers.

The length of all the three platforms was extended towards the Delhi side long ago but they are still without sheds. This causes a great deal of inconvenience to the passengers in summer, winter and rainy season.

The railway authorities must provide proper platform sheds without any further delay.

M.B.Dubey Bijnori,

Secretary,

Dainik Yatri Sangh,

Shahdara,

Delhi - 110 032.

Showing the way

The report by Parul Sharma (May 27) stated that Zakir Husain College plans to attach each fresher to a faculty member for better re-orientation, activity periods once a week, counselling, and a healthy student-teacher interaction. All these ideas are welcome, for they will go a long way in improving the academic and extra-curricular standards of the college.

Other colleges will do well to follow suit.

Amna Mirza,

M.A. (Final) Pol. Science,

University of Delhi,

Delhi - 110 007.

(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal address of the writer and should be marked "Reader's Mail".)

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