Letters of suggestion to government

                                                                                                                May 24, 2010

Dr.  V. Irai Anbu, I.A.S.
Secretary,

Department of Tourism and Culture,

Government of Tamilnadu

Dear Sir,

Sub: Suggestions to improve tourism marketing

Warm greetings to you!

This afternoon I happened to see your interview on Doordarshan and wish to appreciate you for the efforts. At the same time, I wish to introduce myself as a Chennai based HR consultant, soft skills trainer and writer who has striking similarity with your wavelength. With postgraduate degree in Physics and Business Administration, I have put in 17 years of corporate experience. I associate with Ad media and other business houses in extending services in web content, brochures and write-ups.

As a contributing author, my papers have been published by the ICFAI University HRM Review journals.  I have written several cover stories and serials in Tamil on Personality development, Leadership skills and Entrepreneurship that where published in Tamil business monthlies. I was the creative writer for Travel & Shop-Chennai magazine from 2006-2008.

To say modestly, I have read some of your works too. To be specific, the novel Maram had resemblance to Narmada Bachao Andolan of Dr.Medha Patkar. Your spontaneity is simply superb.  Be a lecture on spiritualism or self improvement, you have carved a niche for yourself as a multi-faceted personality.

When Travel & Shop brought out a special issue in 2007 for TAAI event, I remember having written on many novel ideas in promoting and branding Tamilnadu Tourism. I found that something is lacking and we have to think out of the box. We have all antiques and heritage monuments but the way of stamping and presenting is not palatable. Why don’t we do something enticing? I am listing out some ideas. Please workout the feasibility from your point.

1. Divide the tourists based on their interests. Take them to heritage and cultural places for a live demo of dance, art, sculpture, cooking, agricultural work, handicrafts, kolam, mat weaving, silk weaving, etc. This has to be a continuous session. Arrange for educated guides who are well versed in those domains to explain the nuances.
2. Your hop on-off bus route is a hit. Similarly design tour package by helicopter to various places in Tamilnadu that demands aerial view to enjoy the beauty. This tour is common in Philippines.
3. Let all barren and waste lands within the city limits and on the outskirts have a special marking for water body, parks, thick forest and soon migratory birds would arrive to populate.
4. Take adventure tourism to old palaces. When I spoke with His Highness Mr.Babaji of Thanjavur, I suggested him that old tunnels be explored and revived to some extent and let there be a feel of royal adventure air inside. I told him he can entertain guests on regular basis for a fee to stay with him the whole day. Like this we have so many palace buildings and erstwhile princes are eager to this. You can plan for sightseeing on helicopter.
5. Arrange for reforestation programme, allot few plains and let the tourists plant selective species of saplings, sow seeds, water them and enjoy. We strike a double purpose.
6. Design few medical camps where ayurveda, sidhha physicians can teach them simple and quick remedy. A session on reading the pulse (naadi paritchai) is sure to be a hit. Let them do and take decoction, lehiyam, churnam for their own use.
7. Have tie up with ASI. Let them volunteer for exploration for few days under supervisory team and get the joy of having unearthed the past on foreign soil. They will be thrilled to have the first hand knowledge of the treasure unearthed.
8. Let them spend a day with tribal people, know their tradition, culture and discover India. This can be anywhere in Tamilnadu along the hill stations of Elagiri, Yercaud, Shevroy, Javvadhu, etc.

These are some ideas that I thought of and wanted to pass on to you. Thanks for sparing the time to read the letter with consideration. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Sincerely,

S.Chandrasekar

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                                                 Jan 24, 2010

Ms.Mamata Banerjee

Hon'ble Minister for Railways

New Delhi

Dear Madam,

Season's Greetings to you.

I wish to introduce myself as S.Chandrasekar, an HR consultant from Chennai. I have great pleasure in giving you an idea which if tried would earn you high name and laurels for your management and planning. For a country with largest rail network in the world, my idea is not a dream.

I understand that Indian Railways operates more than 90,000 trains to transport 20 million passengers daily across various states in the country. By now it should have a stock of at least 50,000 coaches on wheels and some 2000 coaches lying abandoned or to be refurbished in the yard.

On an average 1500 passengers travel in a Passenger or Express train. It would be ideal to include an extra coach for 'Medical van'. This could accommodate two doctors/two nurses, 5-6 beds, refrigerator, drips etc. It should have first-aid kit, basic and important drugs considered vital for BP, Heart ailment, stomach disorders, Gastroenteritis; polio vaccine, milk powder, and child health medicines. There are many fresh medical graduates who are willing to offer services in the Railways department. An ambulance may be available at major stations.

When pantry is included why not a medical coach? Though passengers are health conscious and carry medicines, many a time they are unable to tackle heart attacks, breathlessness, vomiting, food poison and stomach upsets. Always the TTE cannot run down the complete passenger list for medical doctors on board.

You can implement from the New Year 2010 depending on the feasibility. I am sure this is not going to be a burden on the railway budget. I request you to work on this immediately and start implementing on major routes for feasibility study.

I don't demand brand new coach for this. Any refurbished old coach would serve the purpose. Please think over.

I am sure my detailed letter would arouse interest in you. Let's provide solution to the passengers to tackle the unexpected event. It will certainly give confidence to sick passengers to travel in peace.

Madam, I request you to be a Florence with a lamp.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

S.Chandrasekar