Yesterday's news - 17 Nov 2011 : Traffic-E-Challan’, the new system for motorists to remit fines through banks for violation of traffic rules, was inaugurated on 17 November, at Sree Moolam Club Hall by the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The State Bank of Travancore (SBT) and the Kerala Police Department joined hands to introduce the system.
It reminded me of 2 incidents I had - one - a month back and other a recent one.
Scene 1- A month back - It was a Tuesday . I was so caught up with loads and loads of work in office that I could leave the office at 9.45 PM only. I was so tired and some how wanted to reach home. It must have been around 10.10 PM when I reached one of the traffic junctions near the city, took a left turn and entered the road to my residence . As soon as I turned my car ,one traffic police officer stopped my vehicle. I pulled over the vehicle to the left side of the road . I could see the vehicle of the traffic police parked near by and three traffic cops were also standing there. I lowered the window and looked at the traffic police.
The police came towards me with an instrument which had a small red light. He apologised as soon as he saw me and allowed me to leave. I was wondering why he stopped me. By the time , the other police men stopped one motor bike fellow and they asked him to blow into their instrument. Then only I could understand that they were trying to catch hold of drunken drivers. I smiled , started my vehicle and drove back home. I felt that they should have asked me also to blow in to the instrument.They need not have apologised. Law is applicable for both male and female.Who knows, there could be ladies too who drink and drive though may not be very common in Kerala.
Scene 2 - It was a Saturday. Time was around 12 noon. I was on my way to a bank in the city. As soon as I crossed the bridge in the city , one traffic police stopped my vehicle. I pulled over and lowered the window . He came near my vehicle and told me , "Madam , dont you know that you should not use your mobile phone while driving ? "
I was surprised , " Sir , I did not use the mobile". I thought that he was mistaken some how.
He continued, "You used your mobile".
I again said , "Sir , you are mistaken. I have not used it.
He said , " Yes , you have used it. Have you noticed the camera there ? Everything gets recorded there".
I was wondering where my mobile was and finally could locate it under the music system.
I told him ,"Sir , if you dont believe me , please check the mobile for any calls and extended my phone to him". He refused to check it.
By the time , my patience had reached its limit.
My voice level raised , "How can you accuse me of using mobile when I have not used it. You are refusing to check my phone too. Please show me where in your camera me using mobile has got recorded.I will definitely complain about this ." I looked at his shirt to read his name.
He was very stubborn. He leaned forward , "Yes Madam , please note my name".
The argument went on for another 2 minutes and finally he asked me to leave.
I was wondering how traffic police can simply raise such allegations ?
I reached home and narrated the whole incident to my son.
He was telling me ," Amma , you should have told him that the traffic camera has recorded the scene of a traffic police trying to cheat the public."
I dont know whether such incidents are common and how many people had similar experiences.
With e-challans in place , probably things would improve.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
And I say I am self made !
Happy Women's day to all the women bloggers and blog viewers..Of course , a day for women - a day for saluting the womenhood..
The topic I am going to write is not related to women alone . This topic has been in mind for quiet a long time. It was on a recent "bandh" day that this topic came across my mind. Every thing had to come a halt that day. All shops were closed. No vehicles on the road. I ensured that I have enough stock of provision and vegetables so that I dont get into trouble on the "bandh" day.
It occured to me that there are so many people I am dependent on to move my life smoothly. Let me start with the beginning of the day. Of course , coffee is a must for me to start my day .
If the provison fellow next to my apartment does not have enough stock of milk , then I am in trouble.Obviously , he is dependent on the milk distributor to get the milk packets in time. Milk distributor is in turn dependent on the milk factories and factories do depend on the workers and the farmers. If there is no dairy farming , I have to drink black coffee every day ..So , I am dependent on all the above mentioned people to have a coffee with milk.
Water supply in our apartment is partially dependent on water tankers. If they dont fill our sumps , forget about taking bath..If they go on strike one day , of course I am in trouble.
Breakfast is something I cannot skip .. I cannot have idly or dosa without getting the ingredients from the shopkeepers. Obviously I am dependent on the shop keepers and farmers to have a good breakfast so that I can start my day with full energy.
The food waste accumulated in my utility area starts stinking if the ladies who collect waste dont turn up .
I do owe a lot to the fabric makers and sellers who ensure that I am decently dressed when I go to office.
At this moment , I am recollecting what I learnt in my childhood. Air , Water , food , clothing and shelter are the basic necessities of my life. Mother nature has been kind enough to provide me enough air . I already talked about whom I am dependent on for water, food and clothing. Let me talk about shelter. I live in the 4th floor of a 14 storeyed building. Thanks to the construction workers , plumbers , painters and electricians for ensuring that we have a nice and safe apartment to live in.
Who is dependent on me ? Of course my child and parents do depend on me. Why do they depend on me ? I am the single earner in my family . So , yes , all of us are dependent on my salary. What do I do to earn the salary ? I provide consulting in my company and yes , I do get nicely paid. What if I don't turn up in office one day ? Who gets impacted ? Does it impact the basic necessities of any one in the world ? Perhaps not. But I do get paid much more than the famers , the construction workers , the plumbers , the electricians. But I cant meet the basic necessities of my life if all the above mentioned people dont do what they do .
For completing a day successfully , I have to depend on so many people who are known and unknown !
But many a times we say that we are self made. Though I dont claim so , I am just thinking , can ever a person be self made ?
The topic I am going to write is not related to women alone . This topic has been in mind for quiet a long time. It was on a recent "bandh" day that this topic came across my mind. Every thing had to come a halt that day. All shops were closed. No vehicles on the road. I ensured that I have enough stock of provision and vegetables so that I dont get into trouble on the "bandh" day.
It occured to me that there are so many people I am dependent on to move my life smoothly. Let me start with the beginning of the day. Of course , coffee is a must for me to start my day .
If the provison fellow next to my apartment does not have enough stock of milk , then I am in trouble.Obviously , he is dependent on the milk distributor to get the milk packets in time. Milk distributor is in turn dependent on the milk factories and factories do depend on the workers and the farmers. If there is no dairy farming , I have to drink black coffee every day ..So , I am dependent on all the above mentioned people to have a coffee with milk.
Water supply in our apartment is partially dependent on water tankers. If they dont fill our sumps , forget about taking bath..If they go on strike one day , of course I am in trouble.
Breakfast is something I cannot skip .. I cannot have idly or dosa without getting the ingredients from the shopkeepers. Obviously I am dependent on the shop keepers and farmers to have a good breakfast so that I can start my day with full energy.
The food waste accumulated in my utility area starts stinking if the ladies who collect waste dont turn up .
I do owe a lot to the fabric makers and sellers who ensure that I am decently dressed when I go to office.
At this moment , I am recollecting what I learnt in my childhood. Air , Water , food , clothing and shelter are the basic necessities of my life. Mother nature has been kind enough to provide me enough air . I already talked about whom I am dependent on for water, food and clothing. Let me talk about shelter. I live in the 4th floor of a 14 storeyed building. Thanks to the construction workers , plumbers , painters and electricians for ensuring that we have a nice and safe apartment to live in.
Who is dependent on me ? Of course my child and parents do depend on me. Why do they depend on me ? I am the single earner in my family . So , yes , all of us are dependent on my salary. What do I do to earn the salary ? I provide consulting in my company and yes , I do get nicely paid. What if I don't turn up in office one day ? Who gets impacted ? Does it impact the basic necessities of any one in the world ? Perhaps not. But I do get paid much more than the famers , the construction workers , the plumbers , the electricians. But I cant meet the basic necessities of my life if all the above mentioned people dont do what they do .
For completing a day successfully , I have to depend on so many people who are known and unknown !
But many a times we say that we are self made. Though I dont claim so , I am just thinking , can ever a person be self made ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
