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Wednesday 4 March 2015

This senior citizen battles for more buses

TNN | Mar 4, 2015, 07.16 AM IST




V Rama Rao is a familiar face in Alandur and Nanganallur not only among residents but also government officials. The 72-year-old retired government employee spends hours in government departments submitting petitions and filing RTIs to demand better transportation facilities, civic infrastructure and more.

Known as `Demand Rama Rao', the former trade union leader and retired chief telegraph master, has won many battles against civic authorities. "I became an activist after seeing people suffering. Having been a trade union lead er, I found it easier to confront authorities and officials," says Rao, who runs Traffic and Transportation Forum, a non-governmental organisation that has lobbied for extra ticket counters at suburban stations, more bus services, road widening and other facilities.

"People pay taxes and they have every right to demand that civic amenities are good and well maintained.Why should people suffer bad roads and poor drainage?" says Rao.

One of Rao's first successful battles involved rallying residents to get underground drains. "We were the first to set up underground drainage in Nanganallur in 2003. Each resident contributed `5,000 to get the work done. Neighbouring Tambaram still does not have an underground drainage system," he says.
Right now, the forum is demanding a bus stand near St Thomas railway station. "Once metro rail starts functioning, a bus stand will be needed urgently," he says. "Why wait till then to ask for it?" The forum is also suggesting that metro rail use the underpass of Kathipara junction to connect to the neighbourhood for the proposed AlandurAsargana Hub, where more than 100 buses could be operated.

Rao and his team have now turned their attention to water bodies. "We are still fighting against encroachments on Adambakkam lake by both the ruling and opposition parties. We will make sure we will restore the lake to its its original condition," he says.

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2-3-15:  78.2% - RTI QUIERIES BY OUR TN ASSN:

                           
Our Tamilnadu Circle Association has asked some very very important queries to DOT under RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT; 
Please see below to read the queries:
 Right to Information Act – 2005 Application for getting information To CPIO, Department of Telecom, Sanchar Bhavan, Asoka Road,New Delhi-110001
Name of the Applicant             : V.Ramarao 
Postal Address                         : C-42,Sixth Street, Lakshmi  Nagar,                                                                                        Nanganallur, Chennai-600061  
Phone No                                  : 044-22240708   Mobile: 91-9444296085
E-Mail Address                         :vramarao1942@gmail.com
Indian Citizenship                    : Yes
Details of information sought(within 30 days)   : Yes
Copies of documents                                            : Yes
Other details                                                           : Yes
Whether details sought forRelates to third party : No
Details of information sought:-    DoT issued orders on 10/6/2013 for revising the pay from 1/1/2007 taking into account 78.2% IDA instead of 68.8% IDA.  The benefit was given to those who were in service as on 10/6/2013 and retirement benefits including pension was fixed on that basis for those who retired after 10/6/2013.  Actual payment was made from 10/6/2013.  The same benefit has to be extended to pensioners who retired before 1/1/2007 and after 1/1/2007.  DoT sought and got the approval of DoP&PW.  On the basis of the opinion given by DoP&PW, approval was sought from Department of Expenditure.  DoE gave its approval and it suggested to get the Cabinet approval vide its letter dated 15/10/2014.  Accordingly Draft Cabinet Note was prepared by Establishment section of DoT within a short time and sent to finance section of DoT. 
 It is understood that
Finance section took more than two months and returned the ‘Note’ seeking some additional points.  In this connection we seek the following information:-
a)     Whether DoT letter No.1-45/2003-B dated 15/3/2005 was issued after the Cabinet approval?
b)    If so, copy of the Cabinet Note approved
c)     Whether DoT letter No.1-45/2003-B dated 15/6/2006 was issued after the Cabinet approval?d)    If so, copy of the Cabinet Note approved
e)     Whether the letter No.40-12/2007-Pen(T) dated 5/1/2009 signed by Shri Siddhartha Behura, Secretary, DoT clarifying the position regarding as “If BSNL, for any reason, is not able to contribute to the extent prescribed in para 1 above, the Government of India will still pay the admissible prensionary benefits including Family Pension to BSNL employees (excepting those recruited after 1/10/2000)” was issued after the Cabinet approval?
f)      If so, copy of the Cabinet Note approved
g)     Inspite of the clarification issued vide 5/1/2009 letter signed by Secretary, DoT, is it necessary to seek the approval of Cabinet if the Government’s pension liability crosses 60% of revenue remitted by BSNL to Government?h)   
 If so, the reason for the same
Whether the applicant comes under BPL        : No
Details of remittance fee
: Postal order for Rs.110/- is attached (Rs10) For application fee  and                                                                  Rs.100/ for Xerox copies)
How the applicant would like toGet the information  : By Post & Email
Date of submission of application                    : 24/2/2015
Time given for giving details                             : 30 days

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