Mangalore has many hospitals conducting free medical camps once in a while. But little is known to the public about organ donations, its needs and norms. Awareness and practice on this matter should be widened. The practice of organ transplant will never bring good to the needy majority if statistics continue as of present; the gap is far too wide. Eye donations for corneal grafting is a very vital and simple gesture, when they are no longer of any use-but, the final burst is missing. Actually, no prior documentation/ registration is needed in the case of eye donation. Only the family members need to consent to keep the will of the deceased. But for organ or cadaver donations, legal prescribed document of commitment is needed. There is an urgent need for the hospitals and concerned organisations in the city to create an awareness of the why and how of organ transplantation among the public. Organ donation in the country is not able to meet the demand, as evident from the Gurgaon kidney racket case. But the reason for this is not good-will, but only the lack of knowledge and action.

IJS Shet, Bolar.

Dog menace

Here’s a bow, there’s a bow, everywhere bow bow bow.... This is a nursery rhyme. But it is true. When you roam around market areas in Mangalore, you often come across this.

Recently, I saw a dog attacking a lady by pulling her bag, near Janatha Bazar. Similarly, two-three dogs attacked me too some days ago near New Chitra Talkies. If this is what happens during day, what about night? The city corporation is totally helpless in controlling the dogs due to Madam Maneka’s ordinance to protect dogs. Hence the government may bring a separate ordinance to protect the civilians from the menace of stray dogs.

K P A Rahim, Jeppu

Provide UGD  system

There are 40 houses in Dwaraka Nagar area near Krishna Gnanodaya Bhajana Mandira in Kottara. These houses have not been provided with underground drainage (UGD) system since the formation of Dwaraka Nagar many years ago. We the residents of this area have been representing to the City Corporation through the Corporators for taking early actions in this regard. But all our requests and even personal meetings with the concerned officials have not yielded any positive results. Even the newly formed Abbakka Nagar colony which is just opposite to our colony has been provided with underground drainage system when the road from Urwa Stores to Kottara Chowki was concertised a few years back. But we have been denied this facility. We have again taken up the matter with the Corporation through our new corporator. What all we want is that our new corporator Amitha should follow up this matter with the Corporation and see that our demand is met and the work is started and completed before the end of December 2008.

Sukumar Talpady

Karavali Utsav lacks novelty

This year’s edition of our annual ‘Karavali Utsav’ was yet another run-of-the-mill exhibition. Was there anything that was different, distinct, unique, new or novel in it?

Year after year, we have very similar contents inside the Utsav venue, and only the design and decor of the entry gates change. Why can’t we change the contents instead? It needs new ideas, new thoughts and new innovations. If the very same set of bureaucrats and the representatives from the public sit, discuss and decide, we will always have similar exhibition instead of the so called Utsav.

Fortunately, with an abundance of young talent available in our educational institutions, if the right blend of talents are chosen, and have the guidance of a professional organiser, we can certainly have the real ‘Utsav’.

If the thin crowds visible on week days, and the lack of enthusiasm and response from the public is any yardstick, and the extension beyond the scheduled conclusion is any indication, it is a wake up call to all concerned to realise, and ‘involve-innovate and evolve’ beyond the present presentation to make it the real Karavali Utsav.
Since in our coast, we have different types of Utsavs throughout the year, unless you dare to be different, it will fail to attract visitors.

Plea to dist admn

If pre-paid taxi system could be successfully implemented at the Bajpe Airport over the years, why not at our Railway Station and KSRTC bus stand.

With a huge floating population travelling into Mangalore everyday, round the clock, it is the duty of the district authorities to provide pre-paid services to everyone at vital points. If only the RTO and the traffic police were sensitive to the plight of these helpless passengers, they must have taken interest in running the counters provided by Corporation Bank. Whoever comes to park at these junction must register themselves first with the authorities, and a traffic cop can take care of the passengers to get them pre-paid taxi/auto.

As the city is growing exponentially, it must be done on top priority basis and even the media can pitch in by creating an awareness in the public about these services. The public will be grateful to the district authorities, if they act now and provide this essential service at our Railway Station, KSRTC bus stand and even at our Government Wenlock Hospital.

Also, let there be a police/RTO helpline number displayed at these junctions in case of any harassment by the drivers.

Needless to say the authorities also must fix up a decent, fair fare for both the taxi and autos depending on the distance and time of boarding.

B N R Rao, Kulur.

(Readers may send their letters to The Editor, Deccan Herald, Yenepoya Chambers, 2nd floor, Balmatta, Mangalore or e-mail to dhmangalore@deccanherald.co.in. )