Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101573700300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Who will punish Government?

The Central Government shouts from the rooftops that all facilities will be provided to senior citizens. At the same time it continuously cuts down and erodes the existing conveniences, for whatever reason. Take the CGHS for instance. Over a period of just five years, most of the benefits legitimately due to the employees are gradually withdrawn. The treatment by the private hospitals as an OP is no more valid. The beneficiary is advised to get the treatment only in the main Government hospitals (and not its branches), unless it is an emergency.

The CGHS makes all efforts to dismiss it as ‘not emergency’ in spite of documentary evidence. I am a recurring angina patient and in one such event I rushed to CARE, Banjara. While the doctors were not decisive about the surgery, my son thought it wise to move to Wockhardt, Bangalore. The heart surgery amounted to Rs. 2. 85 lakh. When I submitted the papers for reimbursement, it was rejected under the pretext that since the patient had travelled it cannot be considered an emergency. Yet another time, under similar circumstances, when I was rushed to CARE, Secunderabad, it was rejected under the rule that treatment at branch hospitals of private hospitals is not valid.

The hassles of old age, the difficulties and costs of commutation, corruption in Government hospitals, poor hygiene, indifference of the concerned doctors, etc. are not bearable by a person of my age who is running 86 years! The Government has passed a rule that if children do not take care of their parents, judicial action will be taken against them. Who is to punish the Government when it deliberately ignores senior citizens?

B. R. C. Iyengar,

Secunderabad

Propaganda in media

Paying heavily for air time on scores of channels to just listen to religious propagandists has become common. The channels go on and on promising everything from miracles to simple solutions.

They inveigle you to be blessed and be cured. The purveyors of these channels, i.e. TV media companies, in their love for money send viewers to missionaries’ embrace. Patriotic people must move away from such channels.

S. Krishnaveni,

Secunderabad