M A I L B A G

Drastic cut in IIM fee may dilute quality

Apropos of the editorial “Spreading the net wider” (Jan 12), though the reduction in the fee charged by the IIMs is a welcome step, making it Rs 6,000 per annum seems to be too unrealistic as it will affect the quality of teaching at the prestigious institutes. I am on the payers’ side, but I will advocate an annual fee of about Rs 20,000. The Union Human Resource Development Ministry should ensure that the annual grants to the IIMs are released without fail.

In addition to the reduction of the fee charged by the IIMs and the IITs, limiting the number of entrance tests to various engineering colleges and B-schools shall be the most welcome step by the ministry in the interest of society.

Putting a check on the exorbitant fees charged by the private and reputed B-schools where students have to seek admission when not selected by the IIMs should also be on the government agenda. Though the fee charged by them cannot be on a par with that of the IIMs, there is greater scope for reduction and rationalisation of the fee structure without affecting the quality of education.

Er. JAGVIR GOYAL, Chandigarh

II

Apropos of your editorial “ Spreading the net wider” (Jan 12), since the IIMs can accommodate only a small number of students, the majority of them have to seek admission to private management institutes which charge much more than the IIMs. It will be highly appreciated if the private institutes follow the IIMs and suitably reduce their fee structure so as to benefit a good number of students.

Wg-Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

Why reprieve for violators? The news that the Punjab government plans to regularise non-compoundable illegal constructions in urban areas is deplorable. The violators in no way deserve any reprieve whatsoever, especially by the government which is morally responsible for protecting the human rights of inhabitants whose properties have been encroached upon by influential persons with impunity. It would certainly affect the planned growth of towns. The illegal constructions being regularised will make worse the already chaotic urban landscape. Though demolition of encroachment on government land by the authorities concerned is laudable, why such steps are not being initiated in respect of the building bylaw violations pertaining to private properties? Such partiality will encourage other violators who might commit similar acts in the near future. However, if the authorities are bent upon giving reprieve to the violators for reasons best known to them, the fine collected from violators should be passed on to the victims (affected inhabitants). At the same time, the government should pay at least double the amount of the fine collected for having failed to implement the building bylaws. The amounts added together should be given as compensation to the victims for remodelling their houses affected by illegal obstructive constructions. Dr IQBAL SINGH KALRA, Ludhiana

Needless controversy

Apropos of the news-item "HP, Haryana Sikhs want Akal Takht intervention in Banda Singh Bahadur case" (Jan 7) highlighting the anxiety of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana Sikhs about the social class of Banda Singh Bahadur, he was a great warrior who fulfilled with loyalty the mission entrusted to him by Shri Guru Gobind Singh. The latter disbelieved in the classification of society and is equally revered by both Hindus and Sikhs.

Any concern about his antecedents and ranking is needless. Such great souls don’t need labels from any quarter; their greatness is the outcome of their heroic deeds. They are titans in their own right.

V.I.K. SHARMA, IAS (retd), Jalandhar City

Abolition of slavery

The practice of slavery in the old form has been exterminated in India, the US and other parts of the globe. However, the vestiges of bonded labour — of men, women and children — are still there in India and other parts of the world, though social activists like Swami Agnivesh and his followers have been fighting against the evil as in the case of the Bhatti mines near Delhi.

On December 2, 2003, International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was observed in New Delhi under the aegis of the United Nations Trust Fund. India has the largest number of bonded labourers. According to estimates, India has between 11.28 million and 23.2 million child labourers. Not only this, some 800,000 to 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually.

Let us get rid of all types of slavery in the civilised world.

UJJAL PAL SINGH, Faridabad

Gurdwara land

Apropos of the news-item “Tohra to visit Pak soon” (Jan 12), Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee President Gurcharan Singh Tohra is visiting Pakistan to settle the most important issue of 750 acres of land belonging to Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nanakana Sahib. The land is being cultivated by certain landlords who pay a negligible rent, but someone has offered to pay Rs 6,000 an acre every year.

Though Mr Tohra has been the SGPC President for well over 27 years, he has never bothered to tell the Sikh masses how many thousands of acres of land are attached to the gurdwaras under his control, how much rent he has been getting ever since and who the cultivators are. He should first give year-wise details before the SGPC elections.

MANJIT SHERGILL, Ghal Kalan, Moga