Reader’s Mail from Tirunelveli – The Hindu

Trains leave the southern districts at irregular timings to reach Kerala stations at convenient times.

Trains must serve Tennessee districts

While it is heartening to learn from the media that the Madurai railway division has earned Rs 414 crore in the last four months of this fiscal, it is also disturbing to note that some of the trains originating from Kanniyakumari, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli in this division are running at odd timings so that people in Kerala can get on and off at convenient times. If the same trains run via Madurai and Villupuram, these trains will be of great use to people residing in so many districts of Tamil Nadu. MPs from the southern districts should regularly meet the Union Railway Minister and other officials concerned and press for the fulfillment of the demands of the Tamil Nadu passengers.

H. Syed Othuman,

Tirunelveli

You will be given a considerable fine

Autorickshaws carry school children in excess of the permitted capacity as there is no authority to monitor and penalise them. Moreover, the auto driver shares his seat with two children, making the journey even more dangerous. School bags hang from hooks on the outside of the vehicle and the other day I saw a bag fall off when the strap broke. The more the number of children, the lower the monthly fare, so parents are unaware of the danger involved in allowing their children to travel in this manner. Traffic authorities should stop these vehicles and levy heavy fines for speeding.

Rajkumar Arulanandham

Palayamkottai

Policies matter

It was interesting to see a number of articles on job opportunities in recent times, especially at a time when the outlook is bleak. Gone are the days when young people, after completing school, had hopes of joining the armed forces with a monthly salary and pension assured after retirement. Since the inception of the Agniveer scheme, this sector has become less attractive due to its four-year duration. Planners should opt for policies that create sustainable employment opportunities on a permanent basis.

V. Ganesha,

Tirunelveli

Educating dog owners as pets

The menace posed by stray dogs, both in rural and urban areas of Kanniyakumari district, has become a never-ending problem. Children are the most vulnerable to dog bites. Stray dogs constitute the majority of the stray dog ​​population. When pets become old and sick, the owners simply abandon them. Due to hunger and lack of proper care, dogs develop diseases that even lead to transmission of rabies in most cases. The irresponsible act of owners can be controlled in two ways. Local authorities could identify the owners and insist them to keep their animals on a continuous basis. PeTA can educate the owners about the ill effects of abandonment and the dangers they cause to society through a public education programme.

B. Nagalingam,

nager coil

Preparing students for the future

Singapore-based Sembcorp’s green hydrogen unit has committed an investment of Rs 36,238 crore in Thoothukudi, as has Vietnam-based ViinFast electric car manufacturing plant with a Rs 16,000 crore project. Thoothukudi will be the third automobile hub after Chennai and Hosur. Engineering and arts colleges should prepare graduates with technical and service-related skills. Schools should introduce need-based certification courses along with academic programmes to help students get into these units. They can collaborate with these startups, invite their CEOs and devise a mechanism to develop the required skills in students.

Abdul Kader

Tirunelveli

Get ready for the monsoon

It is heartening to note that the Thoothukudi administration has started precautionary works ahead of the northeast monsoon. It may be worth recalling some of the blunders that led to the deluge on December 17-18, 2023. When Tamirabharani was in spate, early warning was not given at Mullakadu, Muthiahpuram and SPIC Nagar. The opening of all the 24 floodgates of the big Korampallam tank was also delayed. Even after opening, the wild vegetation downstream did not allow free flow of water. The main flood channel of Uppathuodai was clogged with Seemai Karuvelam trees. Consequently, the water submerged the Tiruchendur road. Everywhere, villagers became water stewards and made breaches to save their villages.

Therefore, a static monitoring team should be placed at the 24-point sluice gate. The jungle stream from Kadambur Maniyachi area is a major contributor to the flooding of Korampallam tank. A monitoring team can be placed at Maniyachi and Korampallam tank with foolproof walkie-talkies. The HOVs should be provided with vehicles so that they can move quickly. Excavators should be kept ready to unclog Uppathuodai.

J. Edison Devakaram,

Thoothukudi

Unhygienic restaurants

Nowadays, restaurants have sprung up everywhere. They sell snacks placed on large trays that attract flies, mosquitoes and dust. Glass cups are washed with stagnant water in large tubs. All activities are unhygienic and carry the danger of spreading infectious diseases. Tea stalls at roadside restaurants should be instructed to sell snacks kept in glass chambers to ensure hygiene.

N. Murugesan,

Radhapuram