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No concern to solve social problems

WHEN we pick up The Tribune every morning, we read of at least two cases each of suicide, rape, burglaries, fatal accidents on the roads (because of their pitiable condition, stray cattle menace and those driving vehicles in an inebriated condition). No politician, whether in office or in the Opposition, has the time to discuss these happenings. Consequently, this is telling upon the nation’s health.

Our politicians have time to block the proceedings in Parliament and state assemblies on Gujarat, Ayodhya, POTA and in protest against their own harassment by the sleuths of the IB, CBI or the IT Department. They are least bothered about the pressing social problems. They hardly ever talk of the lack of safe drinking water, healthcare facilities, good primary schools or their ramshackle buildings.

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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Of course, they do pass legislation frequently to enhance their own allowances, perks and privileges. They have no qualms of conscience for doing so. They have time to quarrel and claim credit for some little good they may have done as, for example, who has brought the Delhi Metro or who got a particular flyover built.

It is time our politicians stopped indulging in these gimmicks like taking out rallies and rath yatras and started discussing the real problems facing the people whose representatives they claim to be. The dirty vote bank politics should for some time be suspended and concern for the people’s welfare should start needling them. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament should ask the Prime Minister to form a committee comprising knowledgeable ministers and competent and sincere members of the Opposition presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to probe the causes of these maladies like depression, unemployment, pollution, cynicism, desperation and mounting crime and suggest remedies.

Concrete steps should be taken to improve the present scenario undermining the nation's health. But the million-dollar question is whether the politicians are prepared to make some sacrifice, shun the lure of office and the accompanying loaves and fishes and break shackles that bind them.

Professor Herold J. Laski’s words, uttered in 1934, in a slightly different context, explain the situation thus: “We weigh uneasily the price of escape from its confines; and the courage to attempt it is rare. But it is only as we make the effort that we can go forward with hope. For in no other fashion can we now add creative dignity to the human endeavour”.

— R.L. SINGAL, Chandigarh

Shun high-decibel crackers
IT is sad that we have forgotten the sacred message of Lord Rama. Even up to 1960, less crackers were used in urban areas, whereas rural areas were not aware of such practices. Now everyone is competing with each other even in rural areas. Diwali is the Festival of Lights, love and high hopes in the form of pooja, but all elements are missing in the use of high sounding crackers. The users are having licence to make humanity blind, deaf, burn the bodies, shops and localities leading to unbearable loss, diseases and miseries of life, particularly to the aged and sick persons.
The social and religious institutions have a bigger responsibility in educating the masses. As the educational institutions are doing a commendable job in mobilising the school and college students to shun crackers, there is every reason for hope and once again, it will be a Festival of Lights, love and pooja in letter and spirit.
The government may also consider the proposal of banning the manufacture of crackers altogether. It is a pity that people are unable to maintain the solemnity of the occasion and perform pooja in the self-imposed Kargil war like situation, when all are busy in bursting the chain crackers of a very high magnitude. None cares for the court orders to keep the decibel level to the statutory limits.
Let all of us wake up. People should use goggles while bursting the crackers so that eyes could be saved.
— BABU RAM DHIMAN, Pinjore

Flawed arguments

Apropos of Mr Amrik Singh's article “Embarassing fee hike withdrawal” (Oct 3), his arguments are flawed. What happened to the recommendations he made in a booklet on vocationalisation of school education? This report drew flak and perhaps has never been discussed.

The teachers are committed to better college education. It is also essential that more funding of higher education, better academic standards, stronger education-employment interface are prioritised by the governments, for which teachers are fighting. But Mr Singh lives in his ivory tower, alienated from bitter realities.

— Dr R.B. SINGH, Jalandhar

Fill the post

The post of Deputy Director, Secondary Education, (DDSE) at Una has been lying vacant for the last several months, causing hardship to the people of the district. The worst part of the story is that the people who have perforce to call at the DDSE’s office to seek some information regarding the impending recruitment of para-teachers, for example, have to put up with a curt and unhelpful response by the office staff. Under the circumstances, we feel constrained to request the State Education Minister to kindly intervene and get the key post filled up forthwith.

— TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)