Sir,
With decadence of moral values, the old people  find themselves at the receiving end. The elders find it hard to pass evenings of their life comfortably and with dignity. Disintegration of joint family system has left no choice for the oldies but to seek refuge in Old Age  Homes. Not only the families where they are often badly treated and taken as a burden, even on bank counters, they are seen in queues with trembling legs. Absence of morality and human values make everyone non-bothersome for such unfortunates, stand torn with the age.
The oldies deserve consoling and sympathetic behaviour at all times. A phenamenon needs to the generated by cultivation of moral and social values, wherein arising above self-interest, caste colour and creed oldies are helped where needed. Stories like  Sarwana who had carried his parents on shoulders to the places of pilgrimage. Many centuries back, can definitely enthuse our youngesters to be loyal and obedient towards them. Religious and moral principles can only emancipate these age-torn oldies from old age troubles and  disrespect.
Yours etc…
Keshwa Nand Sharma
Salehri (Sunderbani)

Sir,
It is a usual feature that during peak summer season the authorities are bound to enforce power cuts for houses at scheduled or non scheduled hours as a  load shedding measure and the consumers are required to bear with such arrangement in scorching heat painfully. Generally, the timings fixed by PHE for water supply for houses during morning and day timings remain from 5 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. respectively.
However, we all know that supply of water which too is scarce and precious for existence can be made available for souls in case availability of uninterrupted power for houses at such peak times is assured. Hence, co-ordination of authorities of both PDD and PHE departments is absolutely essential in interests of people.
With a view to obviate the woes faced by consumers on account of abrupt stoppage/deprivation of water in peak summer due to enforcement of power cut schedule at different timings particularly those affected houses are located in colony/mohallas at all-end points, we request for uniform exemption of power cut schedule across the city during said stated timings preferably, in mutual consultation by authorities of both PDD and PHE departments and directions be issued accordingly.
Further, there is a need to appreciate modified arrangement, if approved, percolate it to ground level staff for strict implementation in order to minimise problem greatly as adherence to power cut-programme at random whether unintentionally or otherwise virtually creates misery at a time when supply of drinking water is already restored for houses.
Yours etc….
P.K. Mam
Shankar Vihar Talab Tiloo

Sir,
The J&K Police vide PHQ’s Order No. 86 of 1990 dated: 05-12-1990 had regularized the services of Volunteers’ Home Guards (VHGs). Since then till date no such order has been issued. The volunteers enrolled thereafter as Home Guards are waiting impatiently for such an order. Though the duty allowance of a VHG was enhanced from Rs 45.00 per day to Rs 60.00 per day during the call up duty of 90 days in a year vide J&K Government order No. 123 Home 2011 dated 09-02-2011. But it is insufficient as well as against the mandates of Minimum Wages Act.
The VHGs render their duty with honesty and dedication round the clock even in hard and adverse situations like the jawans of other belt forces. To increase their knowledge, experience and skills they attend the training camps also whenever and where ever the higher authorities desire. But it is difficult for the VHGs to meet their both the ends with such a meager amount paid to them by the Government. One may fully imagine the poor condition of a volunteer in which he tries to perform his domestic duty. How he manages the domestic expenses mainly relating to the fundamentals like food, clothes, education and medical of his family members only he knows. Precisely, VHGs in J&K are passing their life in extreme miseries. They have been knocking relentlessly at the doors of concerned higher authorities at  State as well as Centre level for over two decades for their most genuine demand of regularization fulfilled. They demand that they should be treated at par with other jawans of belt forces. But the fruitful results still seem far away. Except some paper work and few assurances nothing has been done by any quarter in the long pending matter. Though, they are vigorously agitating and struggling at every level. Yet, none is here to pay any attention towards their woeful screams.
Even the Minister of Home Affairs Communication and Information Technology (Govt of India) in its letter dated 24th February 2011 had requested Omar Abdullah Chief Minister J&K to look into the matter personally and consider the case sympathetically for regularization of 2nd batch of VHGs at par with Ist batch as well as at par with their counterparts of Punjab and Haryana. But the sympathetic personal consideration of the Chief Minister is still awaited.
The concerned authorities at all levels now should not hesitate to take prompt and favourable decision in the long delayed painful issue. The noble act of the higher ones would provide solace to the VHGs as well as their family members. Otherwise, great injustice is being done to them by the elite holding the responsible chairs.
Yours etc…
Swatantra Dev Kotwal
(Advocate) Udhampur