Letters to the Editor

Driven round the bend at RMV
On February 16, I had to visit the Office of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) at Narahenpita to obtain a MTA II form certification to obtain the revenue licence for my car. I was given the form by the polite lady at the reception counter at the entrance and then after filling it, I approached one of the two damsels seated at the inquiries table to ask where I should go to get certification. I described my need to one but she seemed totally nonplussed.

After much explaining she asked me to go to counter 5 downstairs. I went to the counter and there was a man who was having an "important" chat with one of his colleagues and rather sharply told me to go to the "Car section". I went upstairs and asked a security person where the Car Section was and after many questions he asked me to go to Room 68. Room 68 seemed more functional and I was happy. But my happiness was shortlived as the man at the head table in the room told me that I should go to Room 81.

So, I went to Room 81 and was promptly told by the security person that work does not commence till 9.30 a.m. although there were many employees chatting around and playing with computers inside. Well, I and about 15 others lined up and waited till 9.30 a.m. 9.30 a.m. came and went, and when we brought the lapse of time to the security person's notice he said we needed to wait a little more. Mind you, many of us had to get back to work.

Finally we were let in at 9.40 or so and then when I approached the last counter (One Day Transfers Counter to which I was directed) I was told that the Supervising Officer had not arrived and that I must wait for him to come. Half the tables in the department were still unoccupied.

There were only three persons working in the office space behind this counter. Well, the S.O came about 10 minutes later and then went through his ritual of placing his bottle of water in the right place and getting his desk in order and at last he took the form and sealed and signed it and said "Hathara veni counter eken athsan ganna". So, I went to the Counter 4 and when I tendered the form the two employees behind the counter told me that the "Mahathaya" who signed the MTA 11's had not come and I needed to wait. This was about 9.55 a.m.

Another gent, a lady, and I waited till 10.10 a.m. and then another person walked up from behind the room and we were asked to proceed to "Q" branch and get the "Mahathaya" there to sign the form as obviously the usual "Mahathaya" seemed to be a "no-show”.

Tired, hot and angry, two of us went to "Q" branch. We were told when we got there at 10.15 a.m. that the "Mahathaya" there was having his food and would be back. The "Q" Branch "Mahathaya" strolled in at about 10.30 a.m. and with smiles of relief we proffered our forms for his signature.

Lo and behold, we were turned down. In spite of all our explanations and our reference to the source that sent us to him and the reason for our being sent, the "Q" Branch "Mahathaya" was adamant that he would not sign it. He said that the Counter 4 "Mahathaya" had just gone to his place and to please go there.

Well, we trudged back to counter 4 very red in our faces and trying not to speak. The "Mahathaya" had made his appearance and after much frowning over the document he decided to sign it. The time was almost 10.45 a.m. It took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to get a simple signature on the MTA 11 form. By the time I got to work, half the work day had gone by.

Will the Minister or even the President please do something to improve the quality of work at this very crucial department so that the productivity of the public is not destroyed by public servants like this who just sit, chat, read newspapers, drink tea and are paid by the tax payers' monies?

Turn back the clock
On an impulse the standard time of our country was advanced by one hour and this was later reduced by half an hour. Nobody has hitherto given serious thought to the suffering caused to the masses, especially middle class people by this unwise move. During certain months of the year it is pitch dark even at 7 in the morning. It causes a great increase in the electricity consumption of the household notwithstanding the additional drain on the main grid.

The housewife is put into great difficulty, preparing the children to go to school and cooking breakfast and perhaps lunch too in the dark. When ordinary people are suffering under the yoke of a colossal increase in the cost of living, including exorbitant electricity charges, this additional burden has been thrust on them to satisfy the whims of certain people who know nothing about the suffering of the poor. Already much confusion has been created in astrology and allied studies. India, with all its scientific advancement has refrained from interfering with standard time realizing its implications.

Pooja times in temples that were based on the time of sunrise have now been altered to suit the advanced time. I hope President Rajapaksa, who knows the sufferings of the poor will put an end to this insanity and restore the normal time.

Here a dog, there a dog, everywhere a dog
It was reported in the media recently that there was a ratio of one dog for 17 human beings presently in Sri Lanka. This margin increases alarmingly in the city of Kandy which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a rich cultural heritage.

In the city centre and its immediate surroundings, yet within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council, stray dogs are found in their dozens feeding on garbage dumped by the people at any given time of the day.

And to make matters worse most of them suffer from acute skin deseases. So when they are not engaged in feeding or in the act of multiplying, they do nothing but scratch and keep on scratching, spreading germs and stink all over the place.

The passers-by are at their mercy, often getting chased or bitten when they are unable to outrun the beasts. The victims in most cases happen to be unsuspecting schoolchildren or elderly people. It's high time the authorities put a stop to this menace before the city completely goes to the dogs.

Turning a deaf ear to health hazards of ice cream vendors
The letter from a reader appearing in The Sunday Times of February 5 has pinpointed the menace of noise pollution created by ice cream vendors and sweep sellers in residential areas. This view is shared by all peace-loving citizens.

Many years ago when the ice cream sellers started the "musical approach", there was a spate of complaints. The head of the Environmental Authority at that time stated that steps would be taken to contain this nuisance.
Yet the problem as far as we see has been untouched.

But there is another aspect of this issue. Noise is a health hazard. It is a fact, if a person is exposed to a set type of noise for a continuous period daily over a few years such a person is liable to lose his faculty of hearing.

So all these poor lads who eke out a few hundred rupees a day are likely to be at least partially deaf in two or three years. I spoke to a vendor on this subject, as to whether he knew the risk he was running. He gave me a mournful look and said that the warning was too late, as he was already partially deaf. A sad tale indeed.

I feel that the Health Department should educate these hawkers, most of whom are in their early twenties, of the hazard they are exposed to. In addition, employers should be liable to damages for exposing the youth to such dangers in their quest for sales.

With decentralization of administration "for more efficient service" we do not know where or whom our protests should be addressed to.

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