M A I L B A G

Help farmers stop paddy stubble burning

Your esteemed newspaper has played a very effective role in action being initiated and sustained against the corrupt. It has to ensure one more equally, or even more, important task – economic development of the state. Recently we have seen an agitation by farmers under the banner of various unions against the inadequate MSP and then against charging for power and water.

At the same time we have seen our environment being choked by smog caused by the burning of paddy stubble. As per a study, the burning of paddy and wheat stubble every year causes loss of micro-nutrients from the soil amounting to Rs 10,000 crore in Punjab. These have to be made good by the application of chemical fertilisers, which has its own ill-effects on the environment and health.

The value of organic manure, into which the crop residues can be converted, is yet to be assessed. Various government agencies and NGOs publicise the hazards of burning of stubble and your paper too has highlighted it time and again. But it has not brought the desired effect.

I am of the view that if all this is told to farmers by their own unions, it will be readily accepted by them. Through the columns of this paper I request the leaders of unions of farmers to study this aspect of the problem and educate the farmers about it. The savings generated from this will not only enable the farmers in paying water and power charges, but also in buying fertilisers and repaying the debt.

It will make ‘our Punjab’ a clean, green and prosperous state. I request The Tribune and its associate papers also to create awareness about this among the farmers’ unions. The various official agencies, particularly PAU and NGOs engaged in this field should also elicit support from them.

RAVINDER MITTAL, Ludhiana

Promoting Hindi

The Haryana Sahitya Academy deserves appreciation for its renewed efforts to promote the cause of Hindi and for giving a new strength to Hindi writing in Haryana. The importance of Hindi for fostering patriotism is undeniable and Haryana has enough potential for creative writing in this language, which need to be harnessed properly.

It is in this context that the two recent yatras undertaken and organised by the Academy to make a living contact with all Hindi writers scattered at different centres, must be appreciated. Now the potential islands of meaningful writing shall emerge out of the swirling seas of darkness and oblivion. It was all due to the administrative lethargy that Hindi was greatly neglected. The yatras of Academy will increase communication and interaction among the different centres of literary activities. As a result, the literary activities and creative writing in Haryana shall get due encouragement.

The Academy has really broken the slothness and its efforts shall prove fruitful from every angle. More such yatras should be organised frequently to maintain a living contact among writers. Symposia and literary gatherings should also be organised at different centres, preferably at all district headquarters and more and more writers be roped in so that Hindi may occupy its respectful and dominant position. The Academy deserves congratulations from all Hindi lovers for doing its best to reactivate the slumbering talent of Hindi writers.

KESHAVANAND MAMGAIN, Kurukshetra

Need of the hour

This refers to Mr K.F. Rustamji’s article, “Damage that politicians have done”. Our leaders are responsible for the mess. They misuse power to continue in office. Criminalisation and corruption are cutting the roots of our democracy.

Electoral reforms is the need of the hour in India. A minimum educational qualification, with no criminal record, should be made the criteria for a candidate contesting any election. Otherwise, criminals will damage the system much more.

The following Urdu lines are for today’s political leaders. “Jitna mallah kaa dar hai mujko, Utna toofaan kaa dar nahi hai.”

Er CHARANJIT NOHRA, Nabha