While the country is celebrating the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 14th November as Children’s Day, my memory goes about 70 years back.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime minister was on tour to Kerala and was excepted to address a meeting at Tellicherry. I was working as Teacher in Peravoor, eastern part of Cannanore District. I was about 20 years. I came to Tellicherry and waited along with thousands of people to see and hear him. Collecting autographs was a craze at that time. I wanted to get an autograph from the Prime Minister. What to do ?

I had a small box camera with me which was gifted by a pen friend from Germany. I went to the security police and told them that I wanted to take photo of Nehruji. They allowed me to stand nearby. When Nehruji came, I went and took a photo and asked for autograph, which he gave smilingly.

I used to show both the photo and the autograph to friends as a great accomplishment. Over the years , shifting from place to place, I lost both. But the small box camera is safe and decorates the show case .

14th November, Birth Anniversary Day of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, is celebrated as Children’s Day. Nehru was very fond of children and many photoes are there which shows him with the children.

Children are the future of mankind and continuation of its legacy. A civilized society gives maximum priority to the children.

Best Wishes to all on Children’s Day !

It is almost one month after the meeting between DOT and the Pensioners’ Associations have taken place. The minutes are also released. Almost 6 years have elapsed. Further delay is unacceptable. Demand immediate decision by govt revising pension with 15% fitment as per III PRC.

The Kerala State Convention of SCFWA will be held at Kottayam on 26th November 2022. The biggest organisation of senior citizens in Kerala formed in 2006 has been able to focus the attention of the Central and State governments on the burning issues of the aged persons and has been able to achieve many demands. Its demand to increase the pension for the senior citizens from the present rs. 200 /- has fallen on deaf years. Kerala LDF govt is paying old age pension @ Rs. 1600. SCFWA has demanded for Vayojana Commission as well as separate portfolio for Vayojana issues.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

President, SCFWA

Yesterday night while travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode in Mangalore Express, I had a disturbing experience. It started at 20.50 house from the capital city. I was in the Sleeper compartment. By the time the train reached Kottayam, everybody was fast asleep.

At Ernakulam some four or five passengers got down and some others got in. They had reservations in the nearby berths. They were in their middle ages and well dressed. Instead of settling down and going in to their berths for lying down and sleeping / taking rest they started talking rather loudly about about so many small-small issues. They were not stopping at all. Most of those sleeping were disturbed and woke up. But nobody requested them to stop, hoping that they will stop talking and go to sleep. But not so. Out of courtesy and to avoid unpleasantness, nobody complained about their misbehavior. I thought once or twice to speak, but controlled myself.

Fortunately they got down at Thrissur. Everybody was happy and smiled at each other. This was a bad experience and I lost my sleep thinking about it. Are we too patient and accommodating ?

The AIC of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association, the biggest pensioners organisation in BSNL, is scheduled to be held at Mysuru on 20-21 December 2022. All arrangements for holding the same is being arranged by the Reception Committee at Mysuru.