PARAVUR/ANGAMALY: Those who visit Paravur and Angamaly Block Panchayat offices no longer have to call anyone 'Sir' or 'Madam'. Instead, the names and official positions of officials and administrators may be used in an appropriate manner. It was the Mathur Grama Panchayat in Palakkad that set an example for this last week.

Paravur Block Panchayat president Simna Santhosh said that people can use words like 'avakaasham' (right) instead of words such as 'apeksha'(request) in correspondence and application for services. The president also said that if people are denied any service for not using the honorifics, they can lodge a complaint directly to the panchayat president or secretary.

The Angamaly block committee had passed a resolution presented by Parappuram division member KV Abhijith to stop using words such as 'Sir' and 'Madam'.