Mumbai Notes

Eye care exhibition An eye-care exhibition and first international meeting organised by the Bombay Opthalmologists Association BOA was ina...

Eye care exhibition

An eye-care exhibition and first international meeting organised by the Bombay Opthalmologists Association BOA was inaugurated at the Nehru Centre this morning. Every year several lakhs of people join the bandwagon of over 12 million blind people.

Over nine million Indians have glaucoma, which results in blindness if not treated in time. Over 50 per cent of Indians over 50 years of age have a cataract problem. Most cataracts are related to ageing and can be treated to avert blindness. So is the case with diabetic retinopathy. Nearly half the people suffering from diabetes for nearly 10-15 years are prone to this ailment. Diwali and Holi are the other culprits which create a few hundred eye injuries and blindness every year.

The aim of this conference is to prepare Indian Opthalmology for the next millennium 8211; to upgrade the knowledge and skills of opthalmologists. Eye care education is thus the need of the hour. BOA in association with the Bank of Baroda, has alsobrought out a useful brochure on eye-care.

Old Rs 500 notes to stay

The Reserve Bank of India has clarified that, contrary to certain press reports, there is no intention to withdraw the old series of Rs 500 rupee currency notes and replace them with a new series of the same denomination. The old notes continue to be legal tender and members of the public can use all notes in circulation, including old ones.

Railway passes for widows

The Ministry of Railways has reviewed the system of Widow Pass and has removed the cut off date. Widows of railway servants who were in service prior to March 1987 will also be eligible to be admitted to the scheme provided they make a one-time payment of Rs 250. Payments can be made to the divisional cashier by a demand draft in favour of the FA amp; CAO from where the widow wishes to draw the pass.

WR8217;s ticketless travel drive

Western Railway caught 2.03 lakh cases of ticketless travel and unbooked luggage and collected a fine of Rs2.17 crore from defaulters in April. This figure is 27.13 per cent higher than the corresponding month of last year.

WR has detected 516 cases of transfer of reserved tickets and collected Rs 3.02 lakh in fines.