Who cares for the old?

IT is heartening to learn that 1999 is being observed as the Year of the Old. A number of measures would be suggested to assure them that the nation cares for its old.

Many superannuated persons are being wrongly denied retirement benefits. After exhausting the prescribed avenues, they resort to seeking judicial remedies. Their writs continue to be admitted with the direction that they should be put up after a period ranging from: six months to a year. Many of such petitioners in their sixties or even seventies are departing from the worldly stage one after the other, waiting wistfully for the redress of the wrongs inflicted on them.

The hurdle obstructing the permissible retirement benefits to the aggrieved persons is contrived by the internal audit, a unit of the concerned state government's Finance Department, implanted in the autonomous organisations for pre-audit. It often assumes extraordinary powers treating the decisions of these bodies with callous contempt.

A retired employee, entitled to a number of superannuation benefits as per the conditions of service, is usually belittled by the auditors with an uncharitable remark like this: "You do not need so much money in the old age. Why not share or donate it?" If he does not acquiesce in to grease their palms, he is told that the case is being referred to the head office for clarification which is seldom received.

If the retiree has the audacity to call at that office, the dealing hand observes, "LPC has not been received”. when the aggrieved caller argues that, “LPC or the last pay certificate is required in the case of transfer, not on retirement", the wily babu giggles: "LPC is the abbreviation of Lassi, Pani, Chai which is still due in this case."

The stunned retiree, fearing that LPC may not acquire the interpretation of liquor, pepsi, chicken, seeks an interview with the chief of the Audit Bureau, who after giving a grudging hearing observes thoughtfully: "The claim may be legally tenable."

As the unconvinced ageing retiree comes out, someone whispers into his ear that whatever is to be paid to a lawyer as fees a mere quarter of that can be offered to the dealing hand for favourable interpretation and quick disposal of the case.

The crazy old fellow, a sarcastic epithet with which the aggrieved person has begun to be referred to, quite expectantly knocks at the doors of a judicial forum. Though justice keeps eluding like a mirage, death starts sending its signals through occasional bouts of illness, for which money is needed. The jeering remark of the auditor, "You do not need so much money in old age", torments him further.

The Goddess of Justice is not only blind but has also been crippled. The cases continue to be piled up, but filed after the death of the petitioners. But why lose heart? This is the Year of the Old.

(Prof) HAZARA SINGH
Ludhiana

Talking of merit in India

After reading The Tribune editorial “Merit must prevail” (Jan 18) I cannot help reacting on the burning issue of reservations for weaker sections for posts like those of High Court and Supreme Court Judges.

It looks quite ridiculous to talk of merit in a society like ours where there is a yawning gap between the rich and the poor, where caste-based favouritism is noticed in every sphere of life, where money and muscle power rules the roost, and where political, social, moral and economic corruption is so deep-rooted. Where such conditions prevail, how can anyone take justice for granted by conforming to the principle of merit in isolation, particularly when the yardstick of merit is also to be decided by the people who circumvent everything in their own favour.

It is not fair to brush aside the expert opinion of such highly placed a person as Mr K.R. Narayanan, the President of India, who has proved his mettle beyond doubt on a number of occasions. His advice must be given due weightage.

It seems the merit of persons coming from the weaker sections of society is intentionally ignored due to extraneous considerations, to keep these sections devoid of the benefits of freedom. What was then the need to fight against the British as their merit was never questioned?

BALBIR SINGH
Gurdaspur

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Monkey menace in Shimla

The monkey menace in Shimla is assuming serious proportions. People carrying hand-bags and women with purses are the easy targets of monkeys. Sometimes they virtually capture a certain portion of a road, making it difficult for the passersby to cross.

Any attempt to oppose their authority is met with stiff resistance. Housewives are scared to hang their washed clothes for drying in the open. For, these are torned and mutilated beyond recognition by the monkeys.

Many attempts have been made in the past to check their multiplication, but in vain. Traps were laid, reward money announced on each captured monkey, and they were taken to neighbouring states and left there. But they are still omnipresent in Shimla.

The experiment of transporting monkeys to the uninhabited areas on Kalka-Shimla road has proved successful. Tourists enjoy their sight and feed them with bread, biscuits and fruit.

With monkey god blessing them, the monkeys have nothing to lose wherever you send them.

BIMAL GUPTA
Una