Chennai Times

A press report on Sunday Times of India states that the health in-charge who is supposed to check the imported food at the Chennai Port has been accepting a bribe of Rs. 6000/- per container and has given clean certificate for the food being imported.  "The CFTRI test report takes a minimum of two weeks and holding the consignment for such a long period affects our business. We have to shell out a minimum of Rs 4,500 per day as holding charges in the port. So we prefer to pay up and get consignments released on the day of its arrival," a city-based importer told The Times of India.  Babu, the port health officer, is supposed to collect samples from all imported food consignment and test them before giving clearance. While packaged food items can be checked at King's Institute, Guindy, fruits have to be sent to CFTRI, Mysore for tests including that of residual pesticides.  Importers, to whom TOI spoke, said corrupt officials collect the samples, but don't sent the...

Shiva works for the government health department attending to the issues related to leprosy. He has been working with this department for over two decades. With the fall in new leprosy cases, this department became a easy posting for quite a few people and many ventured to do other business in the side. Shiva realized some of the issues that could not be addressed within the then government schemes, particularly with respect to rehabilitating LAPs with severe physical damages. Being a staunch Hindu, he approached a major Hindu organization to work in this area, only to find them not willing to work in this area. When he spoke of the need to work on this area to the then President of the Chennai Ramakrishna Math, he readily agreed but cautioned that there may not be too many volunteers and the onus will rest with Shiva to ensure that any such work is continued. The Swami gave a small sum from his personal kitty to start off Shiva's work. That was 20 years back. Today thanks ...