Date:28/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/28/stories/2008042858670300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

FM radios lack innovation

The FM radio programmes lack innovation and they are wholly aimed at one section of the people in the society, i.e., youth. There are no programmes at all for elders. The high dose of commercials coupled with nauseating and ludicrous language style and anchoring make one sick. Even in the late night film songs programme, numbers from movies of yesteryear, which are rich in literature and music and rendered by singers with golden voice, are rarely aired. It’s high time FM radios took stock of the situation and come out with innovative programmes, limit the commercials and improve language to make it enjoyable.

Bh. Satyanarayana

Visakhapatnam

Pension hardly sufficient

I retired from the Postal Department in 1994 after serving 38 years. My first pension of Rs.1,070 was revised to Rs.3,239 from 1996 as per the V Central Pay Commission report, which was more than three times. And now, after the VI commission, it was revised to Rs.6,932 with effect from 2006.

But, this is disappointing, as at least three times the amount is required to meet the needs of the family in the present situation. Also, in the case of my family pension, it was revised to Rs.1,591 in 1996. Pension and family pension should be at least in the ratio of 5:3.

The injustice in fixing the family pension should be rectified.

The VI CPC also recommended some increase in pension to pensioners from age of 80.

This may be extended from 70 years as some State governments like Punjab are already providing this facility.

P. Rama Krishnam Raju

Visakhapatnam

Check malpractices

Class X public examination is the biggest and most important one in the State as lakhs of students appear for it. Unfortunately, several incidents of malpractice were reported this year, particularly from schools located in remote rural areas.

Also, it is said that nearly 700 students did not receive their hall-tickets in time, which shows reckless handling by the department concerned.

The government should take every step to curb malpractices and ensure proper conduct of the public examination in future.

G. Mary Hema Prabha

Kakinada