Social Service - the SSS way

A general feeling of tiredness got us talking about the need to check my sugar levels.  So, we decided yesterday night to go for a 'fasting sugar' test today morning at a hospital where we usually go.  I woke up this morning and dreaded the needle prick that I was to encounter in a few hours.  Have always welcomed an injection over gulping tablets; still, the prick of the needle is something I have never got used to.  

My better half was more enthusiastic about this morning schedule than me, having been the victim of more health related checks in the recent past.  And here I was, agonizing over the fact that the place was twenty minutes away and that we didn’t know a reliable place closer home as yet.  A mental check of health centers closest home gave a small list – many of them were easily rejected.  However, one was okayed as being very dependable – ‘Shanthi Social Services(SSS)’.  Despite living within 5km radius of this place, we have never been there, not for lack of reputation.  The organization’s reputation is impeccable.  Anyone will vouch for it, in terms of health services or the food in its canteen.  We ourselves can vouch for the services they provide in the Petrol Bunk as well as quality of gas.  We have hit the bunk early morning and many a times late night (11:00 p.m. and above) and have always found the employees friendly and cheerful.  Besides, George uncle, who we had met a month ago had vouched for the place.  The pendulum weighed heavily towards SSS.

This being just a simple test, the decision was quickly made – SSS, it is.  We decided to check the place to see for ourselves what we have heard from many.  As we entered the place, we found it very orderly despite being crowded at 8:30 a.m. in the morning, being a weekend.  The people, whether the watchman or at the counter were very polite in answering everyone’s queries.  The test by itself took as much time as in the hospital we used to go to.  The nurses were efficient – they didn’t search for a vein in my hand.  It was over in ten minutes and I was to go back after breakfast within an hour and half. So far, good as they did not have to search for my veins and I did not have to suffer multiple pricks before they achieved success.  I suggested we go home, which is a ten-minute drive while my husband suggested the canteen after which we could go back and give the blood sample.  Given the crowd I was apprehensive. 

The three queues had people filing in fast.  However, it moved slow and steady.  Availability of food was indicated on electronic display boards that kept updating quantity available and cost.  Within ten minutes we were at the counter serving food.  The place was neat and the tables were full.  People got their food(self-service) and found a place.  Water was served on the tables.  They finished, handed over their plates and left the place.  Supervisors helped people if required, and guided the workers in required cleaning.  None of them could be heard ordering or questioning.  They were smiling and getting things done.  One of the workers picked the card that had fallen from my pocket and gave it to me smiling - they were attentive in the midst of all that work.  Another fifteen minutes and we had finished our breakfast and were walking out discussing how they were running the place so efficiently.

Arun told me what he knew about the origins of the place.  SSS is run by Mr. Subramaniam who started the organization ‘Shanthi Gears Ltd’ that makes machinery - gears.  He is a first generation successful entrepreneur who today runs SSS.  They do not solicit or accept any donation.  And SSS runs like clockwork, maybe something he picked from his experience, I mused. 

The part I most liked about the organization is the emphasis on ‘service', their motto being ‘Service to humanity is service to God’.  This they achieve through quality, efficiency, humility and affordability.  The registration and test costs (sugar and haemoglobin) came to Rs.85/- .  More surprising was the food cost.  We ordered four sets of idli and two filter coffees (yes, we like our coffee the Tamilian way – nothing like the taste of filter coffee).  It cost us Rs.40/-.  Idli per set cost us Rs.5/- and per filter coffee cost us Rs. 10/- each.  I held the tokens and thought about the hotels charging for the same.  The idli was served with two chutneys and sambhar.  Of course, their running costs may be higher, but how much higher ?  For a common man, most hotels are not affordable due to high costs.  Further, food served cheap may not always be healthy and hygienic.  However, SSS was doing it, fulfilling both needs.  We had heard that there are many people who come in everyday for their meals, especially people from the surrounding (both business and otherwise).  The employee who manned the PR Desk, came in for breakfast, bought his token and joined the queue where food was served.  Another fifteen minutes and we finished breakfast.

Taking in the place, reading boards and looking at how things were run, we returned back to the counter to get the token for taking the blood sample (after food).  The employee, who had given me the earlier token looked at me and asked me, ‘How long since you had food ?’.  I truthfully told her that it is 25-30 minutes max.  She asked me to get back in an hour.  I told her that the nurse inside had asked me to get back within an hour and half.  Politely, she told me to get back exactly in that time and not before as one must wait for the test to be taken.  So, we went back to walking.

I have always avoided crowded places be it shopping, festivals or events due to the noise and the hustle and bustle that happens.  However, here, there was a crowd but there was order.  People were patient and those who were not, were directed politely to follow by the employees.  Arun told me that lunch time is very crowded and he has heard that the queue stretches outside the waiting hall some days.  

For colleges in Coimbatore who teach management, SSS is a case study that should be used.  Be it organizing, controlling, motivation or quality, one will find aspects in SSS that is worth being part of a case study that students can use to learn and be inspired.  For organizations, it is one to emulate.  Personally, it was a rewarding experience.  Of how one man aspires to do something good and works hard to succeed.  For behind the clockwork, lies commitment, diligence and hard work always.

Seakings Ice Cream

Somethings don't change, get better with age and makes you want to go back in time.  Like those connected to childhood.  One such is Seakings Icecream.  Trichy, in our childhood (school days) had only one ice cream joint.  If it had any other, it just didn't exist for us.  Besides, the ice creams offered at Seakings were lip smacking.  The 'Fruit and Nut' was my favourite, rather favourite of us three sisters as with many of our friends and acquaintances.  There was the Double Sundae, Choco Nut, Tutty Fruity,......... and last the 'Falooda'. While the 'Falooda' was a favourite among many, it was least liked by the three of us.  A sunday outing to the bridge over the Kaveri river followed by Seakings was a perfect evening for the three of us.  

Somethings don't change, get better with age and makes you want to go back in time.  Like those connected to childhood.  One such is Seakings Icecream.  Trichy, in our childhood (school days) had only one ice cream joint.  If it had any other, it just didn't exist for us.  Besides, the ice creams offered at Seakings were lip smacking.  The 'Fruit and Nut' was my favourite, rather favourite of us three sisters as with many of our friends and acquaintances.  There was the Double Sundae, Choco Nut, Tutty Fruity, and last the 'Falooda'.  While the 'Falooda' was a favourite among many, it was least liked by the three of us.  A sunday outing to the bridge over the Kaveri river followed by Seakings was a perfect evening for the three of us.  

During my college days, an additional ice cream parlour opened in Trichy close to Seakings, called 'Michaels'.  They provided a basic ice cream at Rs.5 per scoop which was a hit among the public.  However, we refused to go there for a long time owing our allegiance to Seakings.  After a year or so of its existence, we visited Michaels and tried the ice cream.  Voila !  it didn't taste like ice cream.  Our belief in Seakings reinforced.  Nothing can beat Seakings - and so it stands even today, for middle aged me as for my sisters.

During my college days, an additional ice cream parlour opened in Trichy close to Seakings.  They provided a basic ice cream at Rs.5 per scoop which was a hit among the public.  However, we refused to go there for a long time owing our allegiance to Seakings.  After a year or so of its existence, we visited Michaels and tried the ice cream.  Voila !  it didn't taste as good, we felt.  Our belief in Seakings reinforced.  Nothing can beat Seakings - and so it stands even today, for me and my sisters.  

So, you can imagine my surprise and happiness when I found an ice cream shop with the same name in Coimbatore.  Despite many visits, we couldn't confirm whether it was really the Trichy one or a namesake.  On one of our recent trips we met the owner and found that she hailed from Trichy and was a regular at Seakings having studied in a college that is walking distance.  Given her love for ice creams she convinced the owner of Seakings to open an outlet in Trichy.  Trips by the place invariably end up in a visit and reminiscing of old times.  By the way, my favourite still is 'Fruit and Nut'.

No Parking

There are many ways to enforce 'No Parking'.  The most common one found is the legal way where the authorities, ready Police, enforce 'No Parking' on roads and areas that might lead to congestion. 

The other one found nowadays is where people think that space outside the compound wall is also their own. For owners like me who drive their own car, the search for legal parking space is so difficult due to the increased number of vehicles and the minimum available parking spaces allowed by the civil authorities, especially, if you wish to stick by the parking rules.  Those with drivers have it easy as they do not have to bother about it, though the matter rattles the drivers brains too.  Drivers usually park on the road and move their car on sight a policeman or a patrol car.  Further, they are treated better by the police authorities as they are not owners.  We owners who have to do it all have a tough time. 

However, added to this is the problem of people who enforce 'No Parking' in multiple ways near and around their compound walls.

One such is the above.  On a sunday, when everything was closed, we found this.  There was no parking space around and when we tried parking in front of the building, the watchman started questioning us as to whether we can't see the board.  We did question back as to how they can stop people from parking on the road, but to no avail.  

On working days, the people who work in such commercial complexes park their vehicles through the day in front of the buildings - the reason for cordoning off the area.  Law requires that building complexes have underground/basement as parking areas.  While on paper this is very much present, once approval is obtained, the basement also becomes commercial.  In some cases, only two wheeler parking is allowed.  Authorities are well aware of this practice,  but they do not take the effort to enforce this for various reasons.  

This is not the first time we have faced such an issue.  On earlier instances, I have had a war of words about how they are curtailing our rights as citizens and so on.... On asking a policeman who was nearby, how civil authorities are allowing such unauthorized 'No Parking' areas, his only answer was to file a complaint and he will check it out.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  A policeman never requires a warrant or anything to pick people.  However, to enforce law he writes, he needs a warrant from a common man.  This inaction by authorities has led to common occurrences of such cases in many of the main roads.

Another indirect way of enforcing 'No Parking' followed by many is to grow a garden on the road in front of their homes.  It does not matter to many that their home stands on more than 50 cents of land and the road is so far away.  They have many an excuse - add to green cover, eco friendly, afforestation and many such.  The only excuse I care to listen is about people dirtying near the wall. To one such owner, I did have a question.  'Why have you cemented the area inside the compound wall totally ? Why didn't you grow plants inside too ?'  No answer, only a stare and a walkout telling they can't talk to people like me.  Seriously, I was asking a valid question - wasn't I ?   In Coimbatore, you can see such gardens commonly on Race Course and RS Puram.  Other areas are following suit.    Earlier, on Race Course with only bungalows doting the place and vehicular traffic being scarce, it was okay.  However, in the past few years, with rapid consumerism, Race Course is fast becoming a commercial area - restaurants, bistros, cafes, boutiques, showrooms.  However, the space for parking is limited forcing many to park wherever possible.  

Authorities and Coimbatoreans need to come together to find a solution for this.  Either the authorities provide permission to convert residential areas to commercial only after parking areas are demarcated or they ask the owners to provide for parking and then start a commercial venture.  Also, provide common parks where people who like gardening on the road can do so with wild abandon and nurture their interests.  If there is a mid-ground, then let's find it.  It needs to be done at the earliest.

All of the above is only to make the common man's life easy.  Authorities always have it easy - one will find official vehicles parked in the middle of the road with the driver waiting for his boss, nose up - they own the roads, so please do not ask them.  Doing so will be at your own peril.

Are we Kumbhakharna's ?

The recent lynching of a man in a village in UP over a rumour that he ate beef is very painful to hear.  Even more painful is that, we sane thinking Indians do not raise our voice over such atrocities.  What was the crowd thinking ?  How did they forget that they were raising arms against a man whom they probably have known all their lives ?  How did the neighbours forget that it was the same man who shared their joys and sorrows ?  How did they forget that the same man had a son who was standing on our borders ready to protect all of us, come what may ?  How did they forget that he was a human being, having his own beliefs, customs and modes just like them ?  How did they forget to be HUMAN ?

The silence that we maintain is even more deafening ?  The Nirbhaya Movement made many of us believe that violence of any form will not be tolerated.  That India has awakened.  That we, the current generation are different.  Have we gone back to our shells to sleep like Kumbhakharna and awake when there is food that interests us ?  If yes, why are we Kumbhakharna's ?

Every day, as I read the paper, I wonder ?  The dream called 'India', is it impossible ?  Why is it that we are not able to keep our religion, our customs and beliefs inside the four walls of our own home and respect another's ?

Only questions, no answers.

As I look at another batch of students getting ready to go out into the world, I think of the youth of this country.  I hope that they will be a generation that is different from ours.  That they will be bold to call a spade a spade and stand up, at the same time protecting themselves.  We wouldn't want to loose any of them over anything.  I hope they will build a nation where a person can live without fear, not be intimated, not be coerced, not be fooled nor bullied.  Not for money, not over religion, not over beliefs.  

Note :  The opinions are mine and mine only.  No other person can be held responsible for the same.