Life certificates during pandemic: Letters to THE EDITOR

Life certificates during pandemic

When November comes, pensioners are to submit life certificates to banks to continue receiving pension. Senior citizens find it hard to be physically present due to old age and infirmity or medical ailment. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the government has taken steps to make this process ease. However, many pensioners and their care-givers are uninformed of it. Pensioners can submit a physical copy of their life certificates at any branch of the same bank across the country or use an Aadhaar-based Digital Life Certificate through Jeevan Pramaan /Umang App. This year, pensioners may submit from 1st November onwards, till 31st December. However, the pensioners in the age group of 80 years and above can submit from 1st October.

SBI is taking precautionary measures while obtaining life certificates. To maintain social distancing, adequate arrangements of seating and sanitization are arranged. Further, in order to avoid rush at the branches, an advisory issued to pensioners through SMS to visit the branch in a staggered manner. The last digit of their account number will be the criteria such as 1&2 for Monday, 3&4 for Tuesday, 5&6 for Wednesday, 7&8 for Thursday, 9&0 for Friday and all numbers for working Saturday. However in case of need, pensioners are free to visit branches on any other days also irrespective of their turn. Like previous year, SBI Dispur is giving doorstop facility for obtaining life certificates for keeping in view of the vulnerability of elderly to coronavirus.

Kamal Baruah,

Guwahati

Need for permanent vegetable market

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the problems faced by the people of Jorhat due to the absence of a permanent vegetable market in the city.

Jorhat is known as the literary and cultural capital of Assam. But, considering the latest uncultured trend going on in the city, Jorhat seems to be losing its status quo. Keeping in view, the population, lifestyle and daily requirements of the inhabitants; the need for vegetable and other food market is undeniable. But, this does not recommend the establishment of markets in residential areas. It has come to light that the vegetable sellers in Jorhat especially those who sell their wares in the New Vill Road and J.B. Road area have been encroaching the open spaces in front of residential buildings and are proving to be a nuisance for the people living there. The vegetable sellers here set up their wares in front of the gates of the houses right in the morning till late night. The residents find it difficult to get their vehicles in and out of their compounds even during emergencies. The hawkers dump their garbage right in the middle of the road, which makes the area stink and deplorable during the rains. The trend has turned the once peaceful residential neighbourhood into an unhygienic, crowded and polluted place. And also, considering the COVID-19 situation no efforts are made by the sellers and the buyers here to ensure social distancing protocols to keep the pandemic in check.

Therefore, the residents of this locality would be very much pleased if the vegetable sellers from this area are extracted and provided a permanent roofed vegetable market in some other part of the city which isn't densely populated. However, there is a plot of unused land near the APCDL Office, Na-Ali, Jorhat, which could be turned into a central vegetable markets which are prevalent in most cities. Thus, I would be very much obliged and grateful, if the authorities concerned look into the matter immediately.

Zeehan Rahman Hazarika,

Cotton University

Gratitude to COVID warriors

Eight months into this lockdown and wondering how I survived this hiatus period with the least of social commitments. All I did was, just sat back and relaxed while the doctors, garbage collectors and municipal workers showed up daily, challenging this contagion every minute in their workplace. The Asha workers were on strict vigil on those people who travelled from other States and who might have posed a threat to the place he resides in. I wholeheartedly loved and acknowledged the PM's Thaali Bajao initiative to laud the tribe who step out of homes with no certainty of their own life. The COVID warriors have left no stones unturned to ascertain sanitation and good health to our fellow residents. They should be rewarded with the best of appraisals, love and compassion. In fact, any antidote to this viral infection should be first and foremost made available to them without any second thought. I saw videos surfacing on the internet where people were felicitating and honouring the warriors with garlands and their traditional gamosas. If we are still enjoying with our families without much stress, it is because of the COVID warriors who fight the invisible enemy day and night. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to them.

Satabdi Seal,

Guwahati

Much needed initiatives

It is a well initiative taken recently by the State government to handover land pattas and allotment papers to landless families belonging to indigenous groups. Besides it, the government had undertaken a pro-active policy to recover xatra and government land from the possession of the encroachers. Moreover, the government had also undertaken steps to ensure Assamese people live a life with pride and dignity and focused on providing social justice. No doubt, such types of initiatives are very much needed at present and it may be considered as boon for the Assamese people.

Rupak G. Duarah,

Guwahati.

Atal tunnel

It is very welcome that Boarder Road Organization constructed the longest underground tunnel at a height of 10,000 feet from sea level. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 3rd October and has been named after late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

After opening of the two lane tunnel many vehicles commuted with high speed. As a result, accidents occurred. So I would like to request the government and authority concerned to look into the matter and take appropriated steps to provide traffic police and machineries to repair the road of the underground tunnel when and where required.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.