Opinion 2013

Emirates flies more Indian passengers than Air India

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Nothing special in this high acceptance by international passengers towards Emirates. It is just because of the quality and quantity of service provided by Emirates is way above reach than Air India could cater. Operating to most of the major destinations in India and then from Dubai connecting to all the major work and tourist destinations worldwide, Emirates offers a reliable and dependable option with service quality. Many occasion of fare comparison between Emirates and Air India, one get to see a better fare with added travel value for opting Emirates. Timely departure and arrival with extra offers for transit are added attractions. No wonder, majority or even all the Politicians, celebrities and government and corporate employees prefers Emirates for their travel from India to different destinations. If one gets to see any of these parties opting Air India as their first choice, that will be the big news to read.
To read the Gulf News article related to this post, please visit Gulf News online.

Good decision

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To read the news behind this comment, please visit GULF NEWS online.

Celebration time is approaching

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Celebration time is approaching



On April 17, The National is going to be five years old. It’s a date all news lovers in the UAE remember as they received their first copy of the newspaper and saw it online for the first time.
The newspaper stands out by virtue of its excellent content, both local and global, as well as clear presentation.
I am happy to have been a reader of The National from the very beginning. All of us should celebrate this milestone.
I wish you all the best.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


To read it in original, please visit The National online.

Stub it out

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Stub it out 
Smoking is an addiction. Several times we are in a work environment where colleagues like to smoke. For some, it is difficult to quit for whatever reasons. These days, fortunately, we have special smoking zones located away from the building entrance.
I have a colleague who is junior to me in age. Whenever I see him going out for a smoke, I request him to stub the habit out. He merely smiles and proceeds his own way. Our office is situated in a high-rise. We operate from different floors, his being in a lower one.
One day, as I was waiting for the elevator to go upwards, this colleague came rushing to go down for a smoke.
The lift that arrived was going up. I told him to join me up first and then go down to the basement. I continued, “You don’t stop smoking. By holding you back for some time, at least I could prolong some precious moments of your life away from your self- inflicted suicidal habit.”
He smiled and has promised to try quitting the habit.
Ramesh Menon
06.04.2013
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online

Mandatory GPS

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Mandatory GPS Many of the leading airlines in the UAE provide the limousine service to pick up and drop off their business and first class passengers. However, recently it has become a nightmare to deal with the transport companies that carry out this service on behalf of the airlines. The guests are confirmed and then reconfirmed of their booking and address, two days prior to their departure. It is then followed up with a phone call, when the guests are given the contact number of their driver. Beyond all this, on the day of travel the driver usually finds it difficult to reach the passenger’s given address at the promised time, which leads to worries about the delay in reaching the airport on time.

Guests sometimes hire a taxi or ask a friend for an emergency drop off. This happens, I believe, when the transport companies use drivers based in Dubai to pick up passengers from Abu Dhabi or vice versa. I humbly request all major airlines functioning in the UAE to make it mandatory for their service providers to install a Global Positioning System (GPS) in their vehicles. This would save the hassle for both drivers and passengers. In addition, an effective implementation of GPS in all taxis within the cities should also be thought about and incorporated soon to make our transport system much more efficient.

From Mr Ramesh Menon,Abu Dhabi

To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online

​Run to fight cancer

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​Run to fight cancer

The Pinkathon movement promotes awareness about breast cancerwhich has a high incidence rate amongst Indians. It is the second most common form of cancer with the number of new cases being reported rising yearly.

A majority of the new cases are caught in advanced stages, thereby increasing the mortality rates. Most of these cases are reported fromurban India with the metros of Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata figuring prominently. Breast cancer in these areas is three times more than in rural India.

Apart from genetic causes, women with higher educational qualifications and an adaptation of the westernized lifestyle are more at risk of contracting breast cancer. A point to be noted is that breast cancer when detected in the early stages, is one of the most curable forms of cancer. Self-examination, clinical examinations and mammographic tests are the basic steps involved.

The Times of India presents Pinkathon in association with Times Foundation

To register SMS TOIBFW PINK YOUR NAME to 58888
Date of Marathon: 7th April 2013
Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium
Time: 6.30 am Free:
First 500 registrations before 29th March
Registrations close on 31st March 2013

My comments as follows:

I sincerely wish it create the awareness in the most genuine way. Most of the time, these runs create only momentary awareness and all forget the danger that is slowly affecting most of the women. Awareness on Breast Cancer should be taken to all level through continuous Corporate and Social participation. Regular presentation to schools and colleges to make young girls and working women understand how to do a self examination and how to monitor if there is any signs of it. They should be also encouraged to pass on this knowledge to their family and friends. Let no life be lost due to Breast Cancer

To read it in original, please visit Times of India Online.

GPS systems can make life easier

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GPS systems can make life easier



Most of the leading airlines serving provide a limousine service to pick up and drop off their business and first-class passengers.
However, recently, it has become a nightmare to accept the services offered by the transport companies who operate these vehicles on behalf of the airlines.
The guest must confirm and reconfirm his or her location at least two days before departure.
However, in my experience, the driver often still has difficulty finding the location. Many of the cars do not have GPS – or, if a GPS is installed, the driver does not know how to use it.
In many cases, the driver is unable to reach the passenger’s home at the agreed time, meaning there is a delay in reaching the airport.
Sometimes, I have had to get a taxi or call on a friend or relative to drop me off at the airport when the car has not arrived.

I think that the major airlines should make it mandatory for the vehicles they use to have a GPS system and a driver who is trained to use it. This would avoid unnecessary telephone calls, arguments and frustration.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.

Bangalore is cancer capital of India

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Bangalore is cancer capital of India
TNN | Feb 23, 2013, 03.14 AM IST

My comments as follows:

Indeed, spreading of Cancer amongst all strata of population is fast paced than the advent of latest electronic gadgets.

The idea of organizers to conduct more awareness to common public is great and appreciated. However, the organizers and organization of conferences such as Afro-Asian Conference of Transitional Research in Oncology (ACTRO) should consider several important facts.
All proposed innovative and methodological treatment plans should be carried out with due approval and recognition from the Ministry of Health and regulatory bodies including Drug Contoller and Indian Medical Association. There should be a centralized data register for cancer patients and treatment plans. Personalised treatment and clinical trial experimentations by pharmaceutical companies in co-ordination with famous cancer treatment centres like HCG should be monitored thoroughly by these authorities. Monthly monitoring of such data by a governing body taking closer look at the patient data like, sex, age, stage of cancer he or she started receiving the trial medication, period of treatment, variation in condition during the course of treatment, acceptance rate, failure rate, mortality rate, conditions at which the patient failed etc, are all to be carefully monitored, registered and documented by these governing bodies. In addition, a major review of the cost of cancer medicines and treatment should be carried out by the authorities and a strict control should come on the pricing on medication and treatment.
Last but not the least, hygiene aspects prevailing in these cancer treatment facilities should be given a high priority and ICUs, radiation and testing units should be always maintained with highest level of cleanliness and standards.
I am writing this as a feedback of my own personal experience had to go through during the hospitalization, treatment and demise of a close relative in one of the famous cancer hospitals in Bangalore, which was way beyond the standard they project, projected and even now projects by promoting such conference. Let improvements begin at home.