'Kulhads' force plastic cups out

PATNA: Much to the amusement of the people here, Laloo''s first gift to his native state after taking over the charge of the rail ministry is the ''kulhad'' (clay cup).
Laloo made his love for the clay-thing public, soon after he took office and in a quick move, the railways has already made the ''kulhads'' available at various stations.
However, the Patna Junction, it seems, is the first one to get them.From now on, tea and coffee will be served in the earthen tumbler. Tea is ok but coffee!
It seems people need to learn to relish coffee the Indian way as the tumblers have made their appearance at all the food stalls of the Patna station.
People agree that Laloo has done the right thing in giving the ''kulhad'' its rightful place. If not the coffee, the watery rail tea would taste better in them, said a passenger.
"Laloo does not do anything without use. He knows that popularising the ''kulhad'' has its own benefits. The demand for it would certainly generate employment and would probably endear the Kumhaars to him," said another.
However, this is not the only visible change to have occurred. The railway platforms, specially platform number one is witness to hectic activity these days.
On Wednesday, cleanliness work was in progress on war-footing. The platforms were being broomed and mopped by a train of cleaners while some of the others were busy removing cobwebs from the high ceilings.
Even the nuts and bolts of the innumerable doors and windows were being tightened by another group of workers.
ADRM PK Singh was seen personally monitoring the work that was going on. He said that as per the wishes of the new rail minister, the railways has done away with the plastic cups and in their place, clay cups have been provided at all the stalls.
He said that the railways had embarked upon a cleanliness drive from May 15 itself and the work was going on in full swing.
But the passengers at the station did not appear very enthusiastic with the little changes that were taking place.
"Every one can very well imagine what Laloo is capable of. We have the experience of fourteen years before us," said A K Sinha, an advocate.
"If the plans that are already on the anvil reach completion, people will be happy. Laloo need not do anything more," said a police official. "Laloo becoming a rail minister does not excite me at all. He has hardly done anything at all in his long reign here."
"Earlier, we had the fodder scam, now we will have a rail scam," said Anu Singh, a housewife and a resident of Hajipur.