The retired employees of PSU/Private Sector Industries, who served the nation in keeping the GDP high, are struggling hard to live with the meagre amount of Family Pension they get (many still get in three digit figures). After retiring from a dignified senior management positions, the pension drawn by them is only 5 per cent of their counterparts in lower positions in State and Central governments. Why this disparity?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Finance Ministry at the Centre is stating that inflation is under control, but the prices of essential commodities have doubled during the past one year. The inflation is common for both government and EPF members. Government pensioners are protected by revision of DA to compensate the rise in prices. EPF members are deprived of the same.
The only lifeline for EPF members is the interest on their savings. RBI and Finance Ministry are depriving them of this facility too by reducing the rate of interest on fixed deposits and small savings to benefit big industrialists. At this rate of high inflation, the day is not far off for EPF members to dig out the FDs for their livelihood, which may last for a year or two.
I request the Finance Ministry and Labour Ministry at the Centre to protect EPF subscribers by offering price index based DA and at least 10 per cent of interest on their FDs and small savings.
V. Rama Mohan Rao
Dr. A.S. Rao Nagar
No end to stray dog menace
I had lodged a complaint a couple of days ago about the nuisance created by stray dogs in my locality. The dog squad van came to our area at about 10 a.m. on Sunday. They could catch eight stray dogs and left saying they would come again to catch the remaining five dogs later. It is understood that all these dogs would be given an injection and released in the same area from where they were caught. What purpose will it serve? They should be released on the outskirts of the city.
K. Bhaskara Rao
Nizampet
Illegal cable operators mistreating consumers
Illegal TV cable operators are operating in the city. They take the cable rights from the franchise and sell it illegally even after digitisation of the set top box.
They never give bill for monthly payment, but just sign on a monthly card. They never respond quickly to complaints and even if they do, they argue and challenge over phone that they will not solve our problem. We do not get most of the Sony TV channels.
Every alternate day, sometimes up to almost 8 hours, there is no cable connection. To whom should a subscriber complain about these illegal cable operators?S. Ameer Hussain
Tolichowki
