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| Wednesday, 29 January 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Health department the sick giant I have watched with avid interest the daily deteriorating situation of the public health sector, despite the enormous amount of taxpayers' money spent on providing health care to the less privileged citizens of our country. I am not wrong if I state that the poorest of the poor too, contribute by way of indirect taxes. It is an incontrovertible fact that over 90% of the population patronize the state sector medical centres/hospitals out of sheer necessity and that they get an absolutely raw deal at the hands of the various categories of employees that the state had employed to serve the sick. It is evident that the service offered is off-hand and one after the other those engaged to serve come out with demands and go on strike at the drop of a hat paralyzing the service most of the time. The most responsible of this sector is the category who call themselves Doctors. They get free education from Grade one to the Medical College free and thereafter post graduate training too free. It is common knowledge that most of the specialists rush through the hospital work and keep themselves fit for the arduous duties at the mint where some mint till midnight. They easily earn a cool million bucks at the expense of the sick. It is relevant to state here that this state of affairs has existed for fifty years of self government and in recent times it appears as a dreadful cancer. I often wonder whether there is any other democracy that can boast of this performance. In these circumstances, may I ask the 225 devoted people's representatives who bend over backwards to serve the country and who as a matter of priority obtained pensions after five years in office, voted for five star meals at Rs. 10, obtain duty free vehicles and illegally sell duty free vehicles, and make money etc to get together on a matter of national importance and high priority and pass legislation banning strikes in the health services by statutorily appointing an independent HEALTH COMMISSION to arbitrate on all disputes relating to their terms of employment and take suitable action in a just and equitable manner. This legislation must have teeth to confiscate property and also imprison those who violate the law. The most important aspect thereafter is enforcement without fear or favour, since non-implementation of the laws of the country can be said is one of the root causes for indiscipline and lawlessness. It is not my intention to suggest that any sector should be deprived of their legitimate dues but only seeking the creation of an appropriate authority to look into their grievances and offer them redress without inconveniencing the sick. If they still disagree with the findings of the Health Commission they should have the ability to go to courts and seek redress. L M Perera- Malabe
The Traffic Police impose fines on motorists for speeding and violation of road rules and manners. The procedure is to hand over a printed form showing the offence committed and the fine to be paid. The driving licence is taken over by the Police Officer and an acknowledgement is given, which is valid until the fine is paid and the driving licence is taken back. the motorist has to pay the fine at a Post Office, produce the payment receipt at the police station of the area that the offence was committed and take back the driving licence. You can be delayed at the Police Station if the officer dealing with the subject is out. it is not possible to claim the licence immediately afterwards, after paying the fine, as on the one hand the motorist has to continue on his urgent journey, preventing him from paying the fine and claiming the licence, whilst on the other the return time of the police officers concerned to their stations is not specified, to claim the licence within a short time. Thus, a fine of Rs. 100 imposed on a motorist from Colombo, for instance by the Kegalle Police, will necessitate the motorist to travel back to Kegalle to claim the driving licence, spending ten times more whilst setting apart a day of his valuable time, for the purpose. This type of procedure is not found in other countries. Why cannot the Police officer himself collect the fine and issue an official receipt or get the assistance of another to do so. If the Police officers can be trusted for correct and unbiased detections of road offenses why cannot they be trusted in collecting the fines as well thereby doing away with a procedure that causes inconveniences to the motorists. The Ministers for Interior and the IGP need to look into the possibility of changing the present procedure that causes unnecessary hardship to motorists, Upali S. Jayasekera- Colombo 4.
LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasinghem had revealed at a press conference that they did not accept Minister Hakeem as a leader of Muslim Community (MC) because the Muslim Congress has broken into two pieces after the fourth round of peace talk. The same Bala in the initial round of talks prevented Hakeem to speak at negotiation table and said reason "your participation here in the govt party so you can't speak about Muslims. Hence, one theme is outstanding that the LTTE plots to deny the rights of the MC and has staged it in the crucial contexts of negotiation via neglecting Hakeem. Neglecting of Hakeem is disrespecting the govt because the govt appointed him as its representative on behalf of Muslims. So, Balasingham doesn't have any right to forbid Hakeem. T. L. AMEER- Sammanthurai.
Ever heard of such? No dictionary may have it. Nonetheless, I guess it is an apt term to coin for the subtle killing of the aged - with none else perceiving a human rights violation or manslaughter. Its strategy is simple. Starve, destitute, immobilize, make medication exorbitant, and services impossible, to elders. Welfare to them is absent in the Constitution, past, present, or possibly the next. The 10% population of Elders' is a vote base regarded as, better eliminated than sustained. To them: * No increase in pension however high the living costs skyrocket. * No dole or other elders concession or privilege. * Not even a special interest scheme for their deposits in banks. * The meagre interest on their deposits is also drastically pruned to enable businesses to flourish on low-interest loans. * The Tax Free return on interests, of Rs. 6,000 a month at 12% - 13% interest is now enhanced to Rs. 9,000 but at lower interest rate of 9% - 10%. (The average depositor cannot deposit more). Thus to whose benefit? * Medication that enhances with age is simply prohibitive. Prices soar to dizzy heights while the purchasing power is at rock bottom. * Public transport to Elders is treacherous - no ergonomic considerations whatsoever to them. Steps to board a bus are fewer and steeper. (Newer models do not cater to the anthropometry of the average local passenger with Elders suffering most.) * Public Service is non-existent to elders. Several the visits, or many the push from pillar to post, never ever deliver a solution. The mind-set of many a present day bureaucrat borders on sadism. More helpless one is, more the pleasure derived. Institutions, like even the Human Rights Commission or Ombudsman are no exceptions. We implore of at least the media to highlight our predicament. E. D. W. Jayamanne- Mount Lavinia.
Thousand bouquets to the U.N.F Government for establishing a long awaited independent Police Commission. Hope the IGP and his subordinates be able to carry on their legitimate Police duties without fear and favour. Though this is going to be a bit difficult endeavour the IGP, his DIGs' and SPs' with their years of experience, knowledge and tact, now should take steps to show the general public that they are capable to achieve success, implementing the meaning of the letters P.O.L.I.C.E for which they symbolizing for. The house should be cleaned up and put in order first. The undesirables such as political henchmen, underworld accomplices, narcotic associates, bribe takers, conspirators and others who indulge in unlawful activities within the department should be identified soon or later and eliminated. The practice of looking after the higher-ups by immediate subordinates and vice versa should be discouraged and stopped. Political transfers, promotions, appointments and "my man" favourations, has to be eliminated at any cost. When recruiting, specially for the officer cadre one has to see the prospective candidates are from decent and respectable homes rather than those children of political henchmen and stooges. These are a few reminders for the new Police Commission to think about when trying to implement its policies so as to get the Police service to go on from strength to strength as most friendly, efficient and trustworthy guardian of its countrymen. FAZLI HAMID- Raddolugama.
Our country has fast become the epitome of how not to do things and of topsy turvy actions. It has often been our experience that when a person suffers some injustice and complains to the authorities about it, he becomes the offender rather than the victim. He is hounded by the real offender and the authorities turn a blind eye to the continuing injustice of the situation. Sadly, this appears to have become an attitude as regard offences where the entire public is involved too. Take for instance the example of the businessman who came on TV and advocated seat belts for bus passengers so that they would not be inconvenienced by ruthless bus drivers - and this at a time when private bus drivers were being roundly criticised for their callousness. More recently, the Police (according to the DN of 2nd Jan 2003) are going to advise pedestrians to carry a yellow flag when they cross the road by using a pedestrian crossing "so that they could be spotted by motorists" who is causing the problem here the crossing pedestrian or the motorist who - (a) Horns when he sees a pedestrian about to cross using a pedestrian crossing (b) Drives at speed towards the crossing when the law states he must travel at a speed which would enable him to stop (c) Does not stop at the give way line to allow pedestrians to cross (d) Shows clearly from his action that he feels pedestrians are a nuisance. What have we done or are we doing to advise the motorist and to penalise him for his blatant violation of the regulations relating to pedestrian crossings. Are we not in a way penalising the 'victim' (the pedestrian) for the offence of the motorist? After all, at a pedestrian crossing in most law abiding countries, the pedestrian has the right of way. If he is knocked down and killed by a vehicle on a crossing, in most instances the fault is with the driver of the vehicle. So why don't we take the drivers to task? Why don't we educate them? Why don't we offer them rewards, if necessary, for observing the rules in order to change their behaviour? J. S. AMERESEKERE- Mt. Lavinia.
The sight of once well employed staff of Pramuka suddenly finding themselves without a job is heart breaking to say the least. While feeling sorry, it is necessary to question as to how 3 or 4 corrupt directors could have brought this bank to its knees without the connivance of most of these employees who are now pretending to be innocent victims. It was these same employees who are now protesting in front of the bank, at the Central Bank and near office of the auditors who very actively carried out marketing campaigns misleading customers with false assurances of stability and high returns backed by thinly disguised bribes. Having gone out of the way and carried out many active roadside and house campaigns on behalf of their dubious bank how can these employees now claim they are innocent and all blame lies with the 3 or 4 crooked directors, Central Bank and auditors. In the light of gross violation of banking ethics, rules and practices involving all levels of executives and directors that are being revealed it would be suicidal for Central Bank, Monetary Board and the Finance Ministry to even contemplate reopening Pramuka with this set of employees and directors. I t will only open the door for them to swindle another 15,000 depositors. Ideally all these executives, who benefited hugely and unfairly at the expense of the depositors should also be held responsible along with the directors and their ill-gotten assets used to repay poor depositors. Siva Jeyaramn- Colombo 6.
Parity of status between the two state banks As far back as 1974 there were directives issued to and by the state banks (Bank of Ceylon & People's Bank) that the staff entitlements have to be on par with each other. There is no discernible disparity notable in the entitlements of the current staff in the relevant banks. They enjoy the same salary structure, cost of living allowance and even the bonus as far as emoluments are concerned. As for other fringe benefits the entitlements are almost identical. Disparity is very much obvious only when it comes to the pensioners. The areas are:- 1. Basic entitlements are 85% in case of Bank of Ceylon but 90% in the case of People's Bank for those with service of 30 years and over. In the case of the commuted pension too People's Bank has given a non-deductible commuted pension for those with over 30 years (applicable to those who retired in 1977). 2. Bank of Ceylon pays the variable cost of living allowance. Whereas this is freezed as at the date of retirement for the People's Bank staff. Those who were retired after December, 1996 have lost nearly Rs. 5,200 per mensem if we go by current cost of living allowance. 3. Both banks absorb the PAYE tax of current employees whereas Bank of Ceylon has extended it to the pensioners but not People's Bank. 4. People's Bank has decentralised the medical assistance payment but not Bank of Ceylon. 5. Bank of Ceylon has paid the partial benefit of the salary revision for the year 2000 in 2002 from January whereas People's Bank is yet to pay even that. 6. There are some glaring disparities within the state banks which have to be rectified to be on par with each other. A thorough study of the differences and disparities and conforming to their own undertakings and the treasury directives have to be undertaken and rectification effected without any further delay. V. SAHADEVASANGARI- Jaffna
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