The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Let there be light

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Let there be light

Reporters are generally resigned to the fate of waiting for a programme to start beyond the appointed time. This is the time to catch up with reading or try one’s hand at cartooning. But there are times when patience is tested beyond endurance.

A seminar on panchayat raj in the city started close to two hours beyond the scheduled time. What’s more, two key people who were to “grace” the occasion — Central Minister for Panchayat Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar and State Minister Shobha Karandlaje — did not turn up for the occasion.

Photographers were getting particularly impatient because the “photo op” of the lighting of the lamp was getting delayed even after the programme began. The formal prayer was followed by a rather prolonged welcome address. Then the moderator announced that the former MLA C. Narayanaswamy will deliver the key-note address.

Even as he was getting up to speak, the photographers intervened and said that the programme should be inaugurated first. Heeding to the popular demand, Mr. Narayanaswamy went back to his seat and the light was ceremoniously lit, as photographers clicked away.

Having got their picture, the photographers left. Needless to say reporters were not as lucky.

Quite a feat, what?

Corporate hospitals in the city never miss an opportunity to take publicity. Every minute “feat” is milked to the last drop to grab the media’s attention. Some hospitals even go to the extent of taking credit for just being part of the Government’s health schemes.

Recently, a hospital announced it was conducting free cardiac surgeries for poor children in association with a funding organisation. The press conference in this regard turned out to be a function to heap praises on the funding partner besides blowing the hospital’s own trumpet.

But there were more surprises for reporters covering the event. The surgeries would be conducted under the State Government’s Suvarna Arogya Chaitanya scheme, which means that half of the cost would be borne by the Government. Moreover, one of the organisers even confessed that when the reports of the free surgeries got published in newspapers, the hospital could get more sponsors.

Ahem, in that case, we wonder what would be the hospital’s contribution?

BAGESHREE S.,

AFSHAN YASMEEN

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Karnataka