There was chaos at a press conference the other day when Chief Minister N. Rangasamy released the Plus Two results and details of toppers from government and private schools.
The results were declared late since it was available only at 10.45 a.m. although neighbouring Tamil Nadu had come out with the results at 10 a.m. After Mr. Rangasamy wound up the press conference there was a mad scramble and confusion among media persons who were virtually grabbing the handouts from the officials of the Education department. There was a melee in the Cabinet room in the Assembly much to the shock of officials.
Most of the press releases containing the details of schools were torn and could not be used. Shocked by the development, an official of the School Education department made photocopies of the press releases and handed them over to the waiting media persons.
Changing times
The decades-old practice of seeing results on evening newspapers has lost its sheen in the digital age of web portals and smart phones. Most of the newspapers vendors now do not receive special editions of evening newspapers proclaiming plus two results.
P.Muruganandham, newspaper vendor, who was in the business of 25 years at Ambalathadiyar Madam Street Puducherry said: “Until a few years ago, school children would make a beeline for the newspaper to know their examination results. Some would even turn up before 8 a.m enquiring about when the newspapers would arrive. There would be a near-stampede when the special editions do arrive---usually a couple of hours after the formal announcement of the results. There is no such anxiety now, the vendor said. Everybody has a mobile phone and almost everyone has access to internet to get the results. For that matter, newspapers have also abandoned publication of results these days.
Violations abound
Residents here in Puducherry will tell you how the ‘right connections’ are all that matters if you have been caught violating traffic rules. A call to the right person, and you will be let off, it is said. Recently, a senior police personnel confirmed this trend. A drunk trio was caught riding triples on a two-wheeler and taken to the station. They were let off rather quickly, after they had made the ‘call’. It is perhaps no surprise that traffic rules are violated with such impunity here.
(S. Prasad,
R. Sivaraman and
Annie Philip)
