Row over proposed law on nursing homes

  THE proposed Punjab Nursing Home Registration Act, which the government is trying to enact, will open new doors for corruption by the district administration.

Instead of giving freedom from “inspector raj”, as promised by the Akali Dal, the present regime has decided to give another anti-people Act. It will increase undue interference by district and state administration officials in the private health sector.

In the name of regularising health services, a large amount of “monthlies” will be extracted from nursing homes and diagnostic centres. This money will ultimately be recovered from the general public, already under the burden of ever-increasing prices. When we are entering the new millennium along with the slogan of liberalisation, enacting such speed-breaking Acts is not a wise step.

Instead, the government should concentrate its energy on eradicating quackery, providing clean air and water to the population, and improving the health services.

The proposed Act should be kept in abeyance and a debate on its merits and demerits should be initiated.

(Dr) JASBIR SINGH
Muktsar

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Travel on forged documents

The news-item “Women held at Delhi airport” (November 22) gives a misleading picture to your readers about Air India’s staff when it states that “this is the second incident of its kind when Air India’s security personnel could not detect people travelling on forged documents” and that “the involvement of the airline staff in the two incidents could not be ruled out”.

We would like to clarify that Air-India’s security personnel did not fail to detect people travelling on forged documents on the flight referred to as the system followed at the airports at all times allows Air-India’s Investigation and Fraud Prevention Section to conduct checking on documents only near the holding area which is, incidentally, much after the Immigration Control where the passengers were found with forged documents. It is, therefore, improper to say that Air-India’s security personnel have failed in their work. For the benefit of your readers, we would also like to inform about the sequence followed at the airports with respect to passengers. It goes like this: an X-ray of baggage, check-in, immigration checking, customs clearance, pre-board screening by the airport security staff, the entry in the holding area and finally boarding of aircraft.

As a matter of fact, the Investigation and Fraud Prevention staff of Air-India has on numerous occasions detected passengers without proper documents but after they have been cleared by the immigration authorities.

JITENDER BHARGAVA,
Director, Public Relations &NMD
New Delhi

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MPs’ behaviour

Media reports over the past couple of days bear a rather sad commentary on the behaviour of an increasing number of parliamentarians and other politicians who don’t think twice before putting the foot in their mouth. The use of unparliamentary language and immature and uncouth behaviour appear to be fast becoming part of their everyday life.

Unpleasant and ignoble remarks and references about political rivals do not behove people holding membership of Parliament.

After all, those who elect them to Parliament or other legislatures do so on certain minimum expectations. Naturally, the people look up to them to seek positive leadership, besides the help to solve their problems.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi did well to apologise to the Prime Minister for the ungracious personal remarks Mr Mani Shanker Aiyar made about him. One can’t help but concede that there is a glimmer of hope and dignity in this reconciliatory action taken by the Congress President. Let us accept that here is, after all, someone who can still kindle a promise to bring back the lost dignity to Indian politics.

VIVEK KHANNA
Panchkula

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A security problem

Due to the increase in the number of serious crime cases in Panchkula, people are having sleepless nights here. It is understandable that if the government employs 700 police officials only for night security duty, it would cost the exchequer approximately Rs 50 lakh per month. Therefore, the residents welfare organisations must wake up and contribute the maximum in this regard.

My suggestion is that some private security agency should be engaged for night security arrangements. For meeting the expenses the administration may charge from the residents in the following manner:

Industry Rs 200 p.m; showroom Rs 100 p.m; 2 kanal house/SCF Rs 75 p.m; 1 kanal house/booth Rs 50 p.m; 14 marla house Rs 40 p.m; 10 marla/HIG house/shop Rs 25 p.m; 6 marla/MIG house Rs 20 p.m; 4 Marla /LIG house Rs 15 p.m; 2 marla/Janata house Rs 10 p.m.

The collection can be made along with the electricity bill.

H.S. BEDI
Panchkula

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Postal blues

On a recent visit to the Sector 29 post-office, I found a long queue there. I had to wait for quite a while to get my job done. However, I was surprised at the behaviour of the people sitting at the counters. They were very rude, specially with the customers belonging to the labour class. Poor souls, they had to bear it all in front of others. If any queries were made, there were only rude replies. It seemed the post-office officials were not interested in listening to anybody.

The reason for this seemed to be the shortage of staff. The post-office caters to the residents of Sector 29 and 30, but the staff comprise only two persons. Besides this, there is a shortage of postal stationery everytime one visits the post-office.

Are the authorities listening?

PARAMVIR SINGH BAINS
Panchkula

Ban on animal performances

Apropos of the news-item “Ban on animal performances” (The Tribune, Dec 2), the Central Government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Inspector-General of Forests (Wild Life) to have a fresh look at the previous notification dated 2.3.1991 on the ban. This was done in compliance with the order of the Delhi High Court. Considering the report of the committee, the Government of India vide its notification dated October 14, 1998, has banned the exhibition and training of performing animals such as bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions.

Training and keeping in captivity of the performing animals involve a lot of torture. The dumb creatures suffer a lot. Madaris, snake-charmers and bear and monkey performers strip these animals of all dignity by presenting them as if they are meant only for tricks.

In a circus there is coming together of talented artistes and imprisoned performing animals. Circus animals have might but no dignity. These wild animals are taken away from their magnificent natural environment, drugged and trained by torturing and humiliating techniques with the least regard for compassion for them. They are kept in degrading living conditions, in wheeled cages having insufficient space. Their dignity is reduced to submissiveness. This dubious trade is carried on with impunity. The abnormal behaviour of circus animals misleads the young minds.

We should give back the dignity, respect and natural surroundings to these wild animals which nature has reserved for them. Circuses can grow without imprisoned animals.

It cannot be, however, denied that the madaris and the others engaged in handling circus animals are the victims of this ban. They should be given loans/grants for adopting some other profession to earn their livelihood. This is not less important than the ban.

(Dr) SOSHIL RATTAN
Amritsar