An awakening

The bold and bountiful
The evening of March 18 saw the sprouting of a new kind of hospitality in the city, in the form of Le Meridian. The resplendent premises of the majestic hotel was swarming with people, many of whom were well-known names in Pune8217;s social circuit. Rahul Bajaj, leading industrialist, lighted the traditional lamp, after which it was drinks in full flow and a lavish spread of dinner. Many were struck by the grandeur of Le Meridian that has opulence with a generous seasoning of class and taste. Nothing garish 8211; the architecture and furnishings in the hotel speaks of affluence through subtle tones. While the general manager, Julian Groom, is relying heavily on the freshness and the unique cuisine that his hotel is offering, it is quite clearly addressing to a different class of Puneites altogether.

A humane face
No one really thinks much about them, but it is only when the gutters are choked, that one realises how crucial the job of the sanitation worker is. Working with the filth and human excreta is nauseating to anybody, so it is no wonder that most of the workers of sanitation department at PMC are dead drunk while on the job. Blocking out the senses is the only way they can cope. Though drinking helps them temporarily, it creates its own set of problems. Says Deepak Kapoor, additional municipal commissioner, 8220;We carried out a survey which revealed that almost 80 per cent of these workers were alcoholics and that was the main cause for absenteeism.8221; And to tackle this problem, Kapoor has enlisted the help of Muktangan, the de-addiction centre. 8220;Initially five such employees will go to Muktangan for the 35-day de-addiction programme and then we will send them in batches of ten.8221; Besides this, Kapoor has also given all the employees in this department gas masks that they are to wear on the job. One hopes thatsuch pro-active measures by the PMC will eventually work.

Old age? No problem!
Getting old has its own set of problems. Diabetes, heart ailments, blood pressure are common. And often these are treated with medications. At a seminar organised by Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Mira society, Salisbury Park, last week, Dr. V. Philip of Pune Adventist Hospital explained how the elderly could combat the common ailments of old age with proper diet and regular exercise. A natural lifestyle also helps in speedy recovery from diseases. In fact, last month, the doctor held a seminar on reversal of diabetes through diet control and proper exercise and in the near future plans to hold a special diet-food festival that should be an eye opener.