Tyres and times: old and new

Last weekend one of our cars was indicating low tyre pressure.  After a while I found out that there was a screw stuck in the tyre. However, was surprised to be told that the whole tyre needs to be replaced rather than mending that one small hole!  It was not as if the threads were worn out or anything, just that the 'tyre was damaged'! 

Photo source: An old news article on 'illegal tyres'

I remembered the old jeep at Ramanthapur.  The tyres stuffed and stitched and patched and what not, and still running in perfect condition.  The jeep itself was very old but I loved it, much more than the other new vehicles in the house.  It was tough and functional.  It could be used for anything and everything: transport for people (remember taking 15 children in it was no bit hassle - not even for the children), distributing bakery products, getting tons of provisions (sacks and sacks of rice, flour, sugar...), getting goods for the technical school (wood, metal, cloth...)... and even when it was parked in the house, the boys would use it as a jumping board to jump from!  The tyres of that sumo jeep were anything but old - leave alone new! 

I was told that the insurance would not cover costs in case there was an accident and it was found that the tyre was not replaced.  Furthermore, the hole could not really be repaired! Really??  I wonder if there is anything that is 'repaired' in this country; everything is mostly replaced with a new one!