When i was stopped by a policemen…

Since last few months chain snatching has become quite common in my area.Each and every lane has billboards telling people to be careful and cover their necks etc….

One day i was going to pinks school to drop her.One policemen stopped me and in harsh voice asked me why i wearing so much gold.I was not sure if he is a policemen or not.So i said i saw the billboards.He replied that just under the billboard a women’s 4 tolas of gold has been snatched.He said you go home and keep the gold in the house.To that i said i have to drop my daughter i will go home later and he was still standing i left from there.This happened at 9.00 in the morning.I never thought of asking him his ID card.

Then at 1.00 pm when i was going to pick pinks the same policemen met me at the same place and asked me inspite of him telling me why i am still wearing the gold.I was shocked.Infact i removed all the gold except my mangalsutra.The only difference was i covered by neck with my dupata.Inspite of covering he saw my neck.Same like before i left and he was still standing there.

I was too sacred,called my mother to be with us.She came and stayed with us for few days.

My house is quite close to police station and everyday i pass from there.From that day onwards i was searching for the same policemen who spoke to me just to confirm that he is a genuine police.After a month or so i found the same guy in police uniform in front of the police station.After seeing him i could get proper sleep.I have been thinking that maybe the policeman in is disguise and has been following me.

Since gold has touched Rs.28,000/- for one tola,it has become an easy money for the thieves.In the past few months there has been many chain snatches in my area.So most of the women have opted for imitation jewellery.It so happened that a thief snatched a chain from a women only to realise that it is imitation not gold.He waited for the next day and threw the chain on her and abused her.

How much ever one is smart there will be a person smarter than him/her.Here the thief thought he is smarter and women found other ways…

There is no escape…….

The lok pal bill mostly targets the politicians and government servants.What about the bribe one has to pay to get the basic things.To get gas connection one has to bribe the auto driver who delivers the gas to the house.My friend paid Rs.8000/- for a connection which would have cost him Rs.6000 if he had gone in a queue (this is in the private sector) and he would have got the connection in 3 months times.

Daughter was not well and was visiting the pediatrician  almost everyday and everyday his attendant was charging Rs.100/- when I asked her she says it is compulsory to pay everyday Rs.100/- for doctor consultation.I am sure no doctor will charge Rs.100 from the patient everyday.The rule what doctors here follow is the patient pays Rs.150 to doctor and can go to doctor for a week without paying.It made me sick when she asked me money when I was in hurry to take my daughter to get admitted in the hospital.Luckily the children hospital where I admitted her was not that commercial compared to what we see in the corporate hospital.

Here in summer we used to get power cuts for 2 hours everyday.But if you have a function at home just pay the line men some amount that day entire area won’t have power cut.We used to pray for some functions/parties in my area.

Because of summer we are having water shortages.We have to book for a water tank and it is delivered on the first come first serve basis but if we bribe the driver Rs.100/- he gets it immediately after the booking.

To replace a gas cylinder we have to call and book it.Then they give a time of 15 days to get a full cylinder.The cylinder is given within 10 days to the auto driver but he sells it to the hotels at a Rs.800 when the cost of one cylinder is Rs.350.00.

Once a traffic police caught us and asked us to show the papers,the person who was driving the car showed him all the papers which were required and the policemen was quite upset on seeing all the correct papers.He was desperate to catch us and he asked us to show the insurance document.And the renewal of the vehicle insurance was due that month end and there was enough time for the renewal.But policemen started arguing and asking questions why we didn’t renew it.The thing is he wanted some money from us and we were not ready to pay him.

Most of the traffic signals has cameras to monitor the traffic as well as the policemen who take bribes.But our police personnel are quite smart they go into the bylanes to catch people and take bribe from them.

Even temple priest are bribed so that he utters our name when doing pujas.

Today The Times of India has an article on corruption in rural areas.Rural households paid Rs.470 cr bribe for basic services.

“Rural people pay Rs.1-2 get a family member examined as an out-patient,mostly to get the OPD cards and Rs.900/- to avail diagnostic services such as X-ray,blood or urine tests at a government hospital”.

“To get an application form for ration card one has to pay Rs.5/-.”

“”Rs.700-800 to get scholarship or admission in schools.”

Check here for the rest of the article

The thing I wanted to say is for survival one can’t escape bribing the corrupt people,he can be government servant or non government.There is no end……

Think before coming to City of Pearls

Dear Visitor to my city

Maybe i am rude to say that before coming to city of pearls ie Hyderabad (also known as cyberabad) think.If you have close friends,relative or acquaintance who will take you around the city in their own transport then you come and have a good time here.But if you don’t know anyone here you will be taken for ride by our beloved auto rickshaw walas.

They don’t charge you for the meter cause they hardly use the meter.They hate to use the meter which is tampered,if you don’t agree for the amount they ask you to pay,you have to talk to 10-15 autos.Even after getting an auto who uses the meter you end up paying 3 times more than the actual fare.

Now latest it that they have gone for a bandh (which has become so common to force the govt to accept their demands) for a hike in the minimum fare from Rs.12/- to Rs.14/-.Government agreed to their demands.Now when ever you agree to go by auto using the tampered meter then the auto walla will remove a card and checks the amount of the fare and you have to pay more than Rs.20-30 more than the actual tampered auto fare.

Don’t say no one has told you about the auto wallas of hyderabad.Any one from Hyderabad will echo the same.

Still if  you have decided to come to hyd,wait till the Sri Krishna Committee report on separate telangana state which will be submitted any time before 31st december.If it is for separate telangana or unified Andhra Pradesh there will be chaos in the city.If at all you have planned to come before 31st december 2010 then also you will find the city in big chaos as opposition party leader and ex-cm of Andhra Mr.Chandrababu Naidu is fasting unto death to meet his demands for increasing ex-gratia to the farmers.It is 7 days now and he is refusing to eat and govt is refusing to accept his demands and if something goes wrong then can’t predict what will happen in the state.

Otherwise you are welcome to the Hyderabad.It is a wonderful place to live.

All the best for your plans and regards

Telugu Homemaker

PS:-Lifted the idea of writing a letter from deeps without her permission.

Edited to add:- Mr.Chandra babu naidu was forced to stop his fast and he is back home now.