L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

MLAs’ perks

In the name of austerity, the government stops the perks of only its employees who already have limited sources of income to feed their family and ensure good education and health facilities for them. On the contrary, it enhances the salaries and perks of ministers and MLAs by passing bills unanimously in the Assembly. Within a few days of power, vehicles of ministers are changed on the pretext of improving mobility to serve people better. Punjab is spending lakhs of taxpayers' money in arranging sangat darshans, though there is a proper set-up of departments in this regard.

The government should declare an annual framework of core areas like education, employment, power, health, road and transport. Does the Punjab Government have any HR plan for the youth? I doubt.

Fateh Pal Singh, Bathinda

Austerity steps

This is in reference to the editorial “Austerity measures in HP” (October 29). Like many other financially-shattered states, the government of Himachal Pradesh has done well to ban foreign trips of politicians and bureaucrats. Their travel expenses drain the state exchequer and the results are not of much worth because the so-called official tours are often private ones, taken for pleasure in the company of family members or friends. It will also restrain public servants from indulging in unwarranted practices such as ‘kabootarbazi’, business links with NRIs, claiming of money by presenting inflated bills, etc. It will enable them to devote more time to their official duties and contribute to the development of the state. The government should also place a cap on populist schemes and freebies. The money thus saved can better be spent on health and education.

DS Kang, Bahadurpur (Hoshiarpur)

Station world class?

I was recently surprised to see that the world class New Delhi Railway Station has no benches on platforms for passengers. A couple of years back, beautiful stainless steel benches had been installed. Why have they been removed? The hapless passengers were seen sitting on the floor, along with dogs. All waiting rooms were fully occupied.

I have not seen this type of situation anywhere else. This bare minimum facility is necessary for senior citizens, women and not so-abled passengers.

KL KHAROD, via email

‘Alive certificate’

This is with reference to the letter “Alive certificate” (October 29). To get pension in time, the pensioner, if living outside the country, should submit a letter giving the reason for his inability to come personally. The bank manager should accept the form with proper verification of the pensioner and acknowledge it. The manager could ask the pensioner to report to the bank on his return home.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Nadaun

Banks, help pensioners

I agree with the views expressed by Surinderjit S Sandhu in the letter “Alive certificate” (October 29). He has rightly suggested that the pension disbursing authorities should send the said certificate to the pensioners in October each year and ask them to return it duly signed by them by November. This will avoid unnecessary harassment and inconvenience of going to the bank for this purpose to the retired pensioners who are old. This procedure will prove to be good and comfortable to all concerned.

KC Kapoor, Jalandhar

Facilitate pensioners

I agree with the contents of the letter “Alive certificate” (October 29). Pensioners, who are senior citizens, should not be asked to visit banks to deliver the “alive certificate” every November. Most of them are unable to come in time to submit the certificate. The banks should send by post the forms to the pensioners, who should fill them in and return to the bank by post.

I am from Chandigarh and am visitng my son in the USA. So, I will be unable to visit the bank in November since I am due to return in January. Till then, my pension will be held back. There are many cases like mine. The banks must send the ‘alive certificate forms’ to the pensioners by post for the needful. Any doubtful case can be verified.

Also, the government should increase the pension of those who get it through the Employees’ Provident Fund to ~10,000 per month from the ~1296 that thay are getting at present.

RK KAPOOR, New Jersey (USA)

Grannies’ role

This refers to the letter by Anita Singh “Modern day mom” (October 28). We have been in Australia for 20 years. My son and daughter-in law are both working. This has been possible with the affectionate cooperation of my wife. My son and daughter-in law go to their jobs early in the morning when our grandchildren are still asleep. My wife awakens the children and readies them for school. She drops the kids for the school bus, cleans the house and prepares food for the family. My wife has been doing this job for 20 years. In return, my wife and I get plenty of love from our grandchildren. This is a great solace for us. Psychologists say that love from grandparents is essential for the healthy growth of children.

Amar Jit S Goraya, Griffith (Australia)

Pharmacists' rights

The rights of working pharmacists in rural dispensaries of Punjab have not been ensured. With more than 400 dispensaries being without doctors, these pharmacists are doing twin jobs: that of prescribing medicines to patients and dispensing medicines to them. Yet, they are underpaid (Rs 7,000 a month).

Ranjeet Singh Saini,via email

Bank security poor

The method followed by thieves in digging the 100-foot tunnel with a 2.5-foot circumference to a Punjab National Bank branch in Gohana in Sonepat district, breaking into 88 lockers and decamping with Rs 40 lakh cash, jewellery and other valuables is a matter of investigation.

The incident opens our eyes to the poor security system in banks. Hopefully, the strongroom had CCTVs installed and they captured the burglars. How could have the tunnel be dug so deep without any sound? Were bank staff and people living in the vicinity involved with the robber?

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

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