Keeping a low-profile is good

“A laptop for all ZP members” has been proposed by the administration for better reach in the rural areas. An official from the Zila Parishad said that it was essential to help members understand and give better reach to the programme. When a member was contacted,he said that though the move was welcome,the recent times have seen almost all members have their own laptop with net connection. “However the state government’s move was welcome,” said the member. The proposal was worth Rs 35 lakh for all the 75 members. While another member had a more different view. “It is for official work. So it is time that we stop using “home laptops” for official purpose,’’said a member.

Cheap yet stylish shoes

Recently a senior officer of Pune police crime branch received an unusual question from three reporters. The officer,in civil dress,was wearing a designer leather shoes. One of the reporters asked if shoes were of any high-end brand. The officer asked,“What do you think? Any guess on the price?” The reporters put forward their guesses between Rs 4,000 and 6,000. The officer,then again looked at shoes and laughed. “They are three years old and had cost me only Rs 600. They may look like branded ones but are made by a cobbler from Kasewadi area. He has an amazing sense of style.” The real surprise came when the officer said,“Let us go to him together again. I am now fed up of this design.”

Here,not onions but traders make scribes cry

This reporter earlier this week went to Lasalgaon in Nashik to do a story on the lives of the onion traders at the Lasalgaon APMC market,considered the biggest onion market in Asia. When the reporter reached there and called a local trader who was supposed to guide him,the trader it would be good if we could do our story without having to enter the market. He said the traders were angry with the media for coverage which blamed of hoarding to jack up onion prices. He said traders were beating up every reporter who entered the market. When the reporter told them that the purpose was to listen to their version,he replied,“It doesn’t matter if you are doing a positive story. They are so charged up that they won’t spare you whatever you say.” It took more than an hour to persuade the traders to allow this reporter to do his job.

(Contributed by Ajay,Nisha,Partha and Atikh)