Auto strike
The autorickshaw fare fixed by the Government of Puducherry in 2013 is already on the higher side when compared to neighbouring States. It is one of the reasons that the strike on September 21 was not supported by all the union members.
Taking into consideration the cost input in running an autorickshaw and also the fact that the consumer price index for the fuel has also come down over the years, it is expected that the government should be firm in its stand though it is customary to revive the fare before the October end of every year.
V. Ramalingam,
Thattanchavady Post
Tamizh Thaai Vaazhthu
Puducherry government selected one of the lyrics of Tamil poet Pavendar Bharathidasan to be sung at all functions as ‘Tamizh Thaai Vazhthu’ (prayer song) at the commencement of the functions. The song ‘Vaazhvinil Semmayey seibaval neeye’ was selected by a committee way back in 1969 and the then Chief Minister M.O.H Farook chaired that committee and decided that this song be used as prayer song at all government and other functions.
The song was also published in the State Gazette with clear directions. But there are Central government institutions in Puducherry which adopt their own prayer songs without using the song selected by the government.
I request Puducherry government to give clear instructions to these institutions and other organisations to ensure that the prayer song notified by Puducherry administration is sung at their functions.
Further, there should be a standard tune for the song as Tamilnadu government had done for the song it had been using as ‘Tamizh Thaai Vaazhthu’.
S.Nadarajan,
Jawahar Nagar
Re-open post office
The long-serving postal office in VGP Street in Chidambaram was closed down since it was located on private premises. However, near the present location on Kamaleswaran Koil Street, a prime property of the postal department is abandoned. The walls are collapsing and a sign board with wild trees and bushes are occupying this property worth crores of rupees. The lack of any initiative to maintain or protect the prime property by the postal department may result in its misuse or encroachment by anti-social elements in the near future.
With the post office (CDM-East) closed down in the present location, it would be helpful for the public if the office is shifted from the present temporary office in the Head Post Office, Chidambaram, to here. This will also save the postal department land from misuse or encroachments by anti-social elements and also benefit the postal department of creating a long-term asset for itself.
Being a part of main town and temple, the postal department will also earn a lot through its routine business activities established by decades of its existence. Will the higher officials of postal department save this prized asset and put it to proper use?
T.Raj Pravin,
Chidambaram
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