the local july 2010 - petitions: is it really worth the effort?

8/9/2019 The Local July 2010 - Petitions: Is it really worth the effort?

1/8


2/8

cover stOn an average, around 150 petitions are filed, every week, at the Nilgiri District Collectorate. OnMondays, the district collector meets with the generalpublic, listening to their grievances and dulyinstructing the relevant departments and theirrepresentatives, who are also present, to look into thematter.

There are mixed results regarding response to andresolution of grievances. While this correspondentfiled a petition regarding insufficient bustransportation from Coimbatore to Ooty and receiveda prompt response from the State Transportdepartments regional office at Coimbatore, indicatingthe frequency of the long route buses supposedly at15-minute intervals, on the other hand, the petitionregarding encroachment had received no response fornearly 3 months.Petitions comprise of two broad categories - everyday

concerns like water scarcity, waste disposal, publictransportation, etc. Petitions of serious nature includecomplaints against illegal constructions, landencroachments, alleged corruption and so on.According to the PROs office, numerous petitionsare also filed regarding pension-related issues.A random survey revealed that several locals, whileaware that they can approach the administration, ifaffected, do not however, know how to go about it. Ihave a problem about the sanitation near my residencebut dont know how to take up the problem, says alocal retailer. The PROs office explains the seeminglyuncomplicated process. Every written grievance isrecorded on a printed slip, provided for by a separatesection within the Collectorate. Each slip carries thename of the petitioner, petition number, the date offiling the petition, the concerned department/authority which will look into the matter and a duedate by which the petitioner may expect anacknowledgement and an explanation of action taken.The time frame for this acknowledgement is 14 daysfrom the date of filing the original petition.Standing in a queue in the conference room, adjoiningthe Collectors chamber, waiting to file the petitionconcerning the lack of transportation facility, thiscorrespondent got a first hand experience of GrievanceDay. Several government officials seated across theroom, face the Collector who is flanked by two seniorofficials on either side. Each petitioner has little undera minute to represent his/her grievance in which time,the problem is understood and the respective officialresponds. Everything seemed like clock work with

petitions being quickly dealt with until it was the turn

Some are not aof the Griev

redressal sysMany are awaredont know how tabout it and amothers who wereknowledgeable, are skeptical ifworth their wexpecting stpolitical influencecorruption at the

end.

Contd from previous p

IIIsss iiittt rrreeeaaallllll

The Botanical Gardens is a mustvisit for every visitor to the Nilgiris.Located n the heart of Ooty town this55 acre expanse of over 2000 varietiesof trees and exotic plants is truly the

ungs of the district headquarters.Layout completed in 1867.

The range of formal sweaters atThe Woolen Store, for everydayoffi ce wear, includes formal V necksweaters, open front sweaters formen and women available in bothsleeveless and full arm...Popularbrands that you may chose fromnclude Monte Carlo.

www.thewoolenstore.com

snapshot

Botanical Gardens
http://www.thewoolenstore.com/http://www.thewoolenstore.com/http://www.thewoolenstore.com/


3/8

3

cover story of a petitioner who claimed that his petition had notbeen resolved for 10 years! The Collector was aghast.Its not worth the effort, says the petitioner (not wishingto be named) who filed the petition against the allegedillegal construction alongside her property. The originalpetition was filed on April 24, earlier this year, to which,she had received assurances at the time of filing but gotno response thereafter. After two weeks the petition wasapparently followed up with a reminder and a requestto the Collector to intervene, the request sent this time,by email (in the hope that the district administrativehead will see the mail directly). The Collector was notin station on the day of my petition and I believe it wasthe RDO (District Revenue Divisional Officer) whowas officiating on behalf of the Collector. This is why Ihad sent a follow up letter directly, but there is still noresponse. Now, I dont feel inclined to do anything more.The construction is anyway nearing completion.In the course of the random survey, it seemed that locals

fell into one of three categories - those who were notaware of the Grievance redressal system, others who wereaware but didnt know how to go about it and then thosewho were aware but skeptical if it was truly worth theirwhile, citing political intereference, corruption and theinvolvement of money. For the few who had filed apetition, as mentioned earlier, the results were mixed.It seems petitions are on the increase. A seniorrepresentative in the local administration states, It isquite obvious that petitions are on the rise. In a particularmonth, the number could go upto around 1000

petitions. He however adds that most of the complaintsare those regarding everyday issues like water scarityproblems, lack of bus facilities, power shutdowns,pension issues etc,. One could attribute this to thegrowing population in the towns and a strain on existingresources. But what of insufficient redressal? Is thereinefficiency at the front end, the grassroot level? Evencorruption?However one may analyse and interpret the situation, itis critical that each and every petition receives its dueconsideration, reinforcing the belief that redressal is

certain if the average local, bereft of political influenceor money, approaches the administrative head with thehope that fairness and justice will be rendered. Else, thenumbers of those who allege political muscling (allegedlyin matters regarding land and building), corruption andadminstrative apathy will only swell, contravening the very purpose for which the system of GrievanceRedressal is in place. An investigation into why theencroachment petition was not responded to, will be adecisive first step.

etitions comprise ofwo categories -

veryday concernske water scarcity,waste disposal,ublic transportation,tc. Petitions of aerious nature,

nclude complaintsgainst il legaluilding activity, landnc roachmen t s ,lleged corruption

nd so on.

HELPDISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICT

POLICEPOLICEPOLICEPOLICEPOLICE

Police: Ooty - (0423Coonoor - (0423) 22Kotagir i - (04266) 2Gudalur (04262) 26

call 10an eme

Please add the area code from a mobile phone outside the circle

Statutory disclaimer:TheLocaliability of any kind whatsoeveout of the readers use, or inabthe material contained in it. care has been taken to compfor the reference of our usersmakes every effort to maintainof the information but does nresponsibility for any and responsibility for any loss or dammay arise from the informationAll opinion expressed in the isform of articles or any viewpointhat of the individual or aconcerned and TheLocal acliability thereof. None of theContributors, Sponsors oconnected to TheLocal can beany reproduction of the mater

with critical journalistic inputs from Ms Divya Chugani, a local, presently

pursuing a degree in Journalism and Visual Communication in Coimbatore.

h the effh the effh the effh the effh the effororororort?t?t?t?t?

A small body ofdetermined spirtsby an unquencha

faith in their miscan alter the courhistory.

- Mahatma Gand

NEXT ISSUE

The plight of some 8stray horses in and Ooty town is deploThey eat off garbage bfrequently injured iaccidents. Some are exfor the purpose of tourism - Pony rides50/ an hr.


4/8

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuarywas extended to cover an expanse of 328.7 sq km in 1958, up from 21 sq miGame Association. The sanctuary forms an integral and vital part of what is termed the Nilgiri Biosphere Resand Tamilnadu, totalling 5520.4 sq km. Incorporated into the world network of biosphere reserves by UNEthe country and is home to a great number of diverse and eco sensitive flora and fauna. The peacock is among

for any wildlife enthu


5/8

Peacocks are large, colorful phe(typically blue and green) known iridescent tails. These tail feathers, orspread out in a distinctive train thatthan 60 percent of the birds total bodand boast colorful "eye" markings gold, red, and other hues. The largeused in mating rituals and courtship dIt can be arched into a magnificent reaches across the bird's back and the ground on either side. Females are to choose their mates according to color, and quality of these outrageoustrains. The female lacks the traingreenish lower neck and has a dulleplumage.

All that you needed know about the proupretty peacock!

Source: National Ge

The term peacock is commonly usedto birds of both sexes. Technically, onare peacocks. Females are peahetogether, they are called peafowl.

The Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowcristatus)is a large and brightly cpheasant native to South Asia, but intand semi-feral in many other partworld. They are found mainly on thein open forest or cultivation where the

for berries, and grains but will also snakes, lizards, and small rodents. Tcalls make them easy to detect, and areas, often indicate the presenpredator such as a tiger. They foragground, moving in small groups and witry to escape on foot through the undeand avoid flying.

en earmarked in 1940, by the administration, with the help of the then Nilgiriudes vast forest tracts and wildlife cover across three states of Karnataka, Keralaar 2000, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is the first biosphere reserve inant inhabitants of this region. The forest department organised safari is a must

The most common calls of the peafa loudpia-ow or may-awe. The freof calling increases before the Mseason but may also be delivered inor when they are disturbed by loudIn forests, their calls often indicpresence of a predator such as the tigealso make many other calls such asseries ofka-aan..ka-aan or a rapid k

may-awe!

Lucky shot: A picture taken by asafari tourist on a recent visit to t

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary,situated close to Gudalur town.


6/8

When the husband realises that his wife has been driven to desperation, to theextent that she has had to approach the law keepers, he sees the need for change.

The seniormostlady police officer in the district,

presently, feels that this wasreflective of an emotion of sheerrelief at the installation of awomens police station, one thatwomenfolk could access withouthesitation or fear. The purpose forwhich All Women Police Stationswere first mooted had been amplyrealised.Today, there are nearly 200 AWPSsin the State with a 23% increase in

reporting of crime against women.

Filing a petition does notnecessarily lead to filing a case

against the errant spouse. A ladySub- Inspector at the AWPS OotyRural Station, explains that filing ofa case, she says, could sometimessnowball into estrangement of thecouple and perhaps even result in abroken family. The motive of thepolice therefore, is to ensure that theincident of violence does not recurand hence they resort to counsellingthe individuals - the petitioner and

the alleged offender, separately. It

Contd from p 1 works well. When the husrealises that his wife has been d

to desperation, to the extent thahas had to approach the law keehe sees the need to changeattitude. Being cautioned woman in uniform also perhapa unique effect. Sometimerelate like a mother to the petitand as an older sister tooffender, says the Sub InspeOur expressions, our tone of and the words that we us

communicate both sternly and

Poise: Lady police have always carried themselveswith dignity, yet preserving the demeanour of discipline. Seen in pic, members of the AWPS

Rural wing, situated adjacent to the Districtsessions court in Ooty.

Local Guardians


7/8

7

Rights of the consumer: 1. the right

protected against the marketing of goodservices hazardous to life and property. 2.to be informed about the quality, quantity, popurity, standard and price of goods and ser3. Right to access, wherever possible, to a vaof goods and services at competiti ve pricRight to be heard and assured that hiinterests will receive due consideratioappropriate fora. 5. Right to seek redreagainst an unfair or restrictive trade praor unscrupulous exploitation. 6. Rig

consumer education.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF AN INDIANCITIZEN - Consumer Rights.

Rights of a consumer in India aprotected under the Indian ConsumProtection Act 1986.

Scope of the Act : 1. It applies to all gand services except those specifiexempted by the Central Government.covers all sectors - private, public anoperative. District Forum: Known aConsumer Disputes Redressal forum, distr ict mandatori ly has a Forum. Theralso be more than one District Forumdistrict. How to fi le a complaint :Yofi le a complaint at the distr ict level i f theof the goods or services and compensasked for, is upto Rs 5 lakhs. No fee is reqfor fi ling a complaint before a Forum. A spaper is also not needed. The complaint be filed within 2 years of the cause of aarising. Complaints may be sent by regispost. Application must contain ndescription and address of complainant aas the opposite party, facts relating tcomplaint including when and where the arose., documents in support of the allegaand the relief sought. Relief includes remof defect from goods, replacement of grefund, compensation for any loss or iaward for adequate costs, instr uction tparty to discontinue unfair practices anot of fer hazardous goods for sale. Nocase of frivolous complaints, the Forumdismiss the complaint and ask yocompensate the opposite party by up10000.

Source: Common Mans Guide to Rights andFacilities - Omkar Kedia/Manoj Pandey

sensitivity, are keenly observed byeveryone and therefore the taskon hand is quite challenging. Itseems it can take hour to counselthe parties and in some cases, evendays, before the petitioner decidesto press charges or reconsider.But counselling is only one part.Taking action is another. The roleof a woman officer, in the localenvironment, is a little morecomplex than their malecounterparts. In the Nilgiris,remote areas must be accessed attimes, in order to reach interiorlocations. If there is the assistanceof a policeman, there is respite but

when it is not so, policing workfor womenfolk can be gruelling.Lack of facilities along the way,or at the location, can be ratherdiscomfiting.Long work hours and the need tobe on call at any time of day ornight, also takes its toll on thefamily life of a police woman.What then, is the motivation?The offence against another

woman makes us feel very upsetand angry. Its a natural sense ofwanting to get the affectedwoman her justice, says the DySupt. citing a case at Devala, nearGudalur, where a minor girl wasassaulted and her modestyoutraged. At that time, due thelack of availability of a lady doctorat the Government hospital atGudalur, we tried to conduct the

necessary tests at Ooty. It sohappened that both at Ooty as wellas Kotagiri, (their next option) thedoctors, apparently, were on leave.We promptly decided to take theyoung girl to Coimbatore for therequired tests. The anguish thatthe girl was undergoing kept us atit. The case was quickly filed,based on the timely evidence andthe two accused men wereconvicted.

How does local society perceiveits lady police? Generallyspeaking, people think we arestone-hearted and aggressive, butthat is not true, says a Headconstable stationed at the OotyTown AWPS. The depiction inrecent times, in movies is wrong.Women police are not at all rudeand mean intentioned as cinemaprojects them, adds another SubInspector, Mrs Jeyamma, who isincidentally, part of the firstbatch of Nilgiri Women police of20 members who all joined theforce in 1981. She is a successfulsportswoman who has

represented the force at theNational level. Several police women. it is learnt, excel insports. Would you recommendyoung women to join the police?No, is the answer that thiscorrespondent got from almosteveryone who was interviewed.Why? Inspite of the best effortsthat the department tries to takein order to protect the interests

of lady police, and the with theunstinting support of their malecounterparts, it is still a highlychallenging job which they feelsacrifices the interests of onesfamily. Moreover, there areseveral career options today thatyoung women can opt for unlikeat the time when they joined,they feel.However, everyone agrees that

the role women police play inprotecting the interests of womenfolk and children insociety, gives far greaterfulfillment than the pain of thesacrifice that the job exacts. Today Nilgiris District has 5AWPSs, one in each sub-divisionand has, inspite of vacancies yetto be filled, a sizeable number ofwomen police, trained and readyto Serve & to Protect.

special feature


8/8

ublished on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgiris. Printed at Satya Press, no. 50 Kariappa Street; Purasaiwalkam, Chennai - 7. Editor:

He walks at an unhurried but steadypace to work, likes to get there ontime, is a man of very few words (butgot into action, unhesitatingly,volunteering help in an eventualityenroute), is extremely wellmannered and teaches golfingbasics for a living. Anthony Das is a resident ofIndunagar, near HPF, Ooty and isemployed at the Ooty GymkhanaClub. I have been here for almost40 years now, he says, in a matter-

Caddie Cool!

of-fact way, when asked whereworks.Readily demonstrating the staand technique of shot making, cool caddie seems quite good wthe stick. Have you played a gamYes. we play amongst oursel(There are 10 caddies in all at OGC). Who wins? Cant say,replies, not giving away any hinwhat hes actually thinking, excthat hes also rather modest. A tcoach!

8

Giant Eucalyptus avenue

personality

Part of a large-scale afforestation prog

several years ago, the Eucalypt us Avenuthe Ooty-Mysore road, enroute Gudabreathtaking when you comprehengigantic size. Distance from Ooty town: 1.Directions: Several bends after Naduvat

Great Photo - Ops by thewayside, while you are drivingthrough the Nilgiris.

local tourism

(Tip f or great pics: Get out of t he car!)

www.naharretreat.com
http://www.naharretreat.com/http://www.naharretreat.com/http://www.naharretreat.com/

the local july 2010 - petitions: is it really worth the effort?

Documents