M A I L B A G

Jobs: Punjab yet to keep its promise

The Punjab government is yet to fulfil its promise to give employment to the unemployed youth. The new industrial policy, adopted by the state government, has remained on paper, and is of little use to the unemployed lot.

What happened to the industrial policy’s goal of providing jobs to the unemployed by exploring newest industrial measures and strategies? Time and again, it has been said that the state government has invited various foreign firms/MNCs to invest in Punjab and develop the infrastructure needed to utilise the investments made, if any, so as to provide employment to the unemployed.

Compare the Punjab government’s poor track record with the Himachal government’s commitment. The latter, for instance, has announced that 71,000 odd jobs would be created soon in small, medium and large industrial units in the state.

SANJAY RAJ, Patiala

Cast your vote as a duty As Punjab is a leading state in many spheres of activity, it should set a record percentage of voting in the Lok Sabha elections. Every vote will add strength to the world’s largest democracy. The voters should neither be tempted by material offers nor deterred by muscle power. They should also not get swayed by slogans or caste considerations. Exercise your franchise in a free and fair manner. Only then can we have a government that cares for the well-being of the people. Dr Ranbir Singh Pannu, Amritsar

Coalition era

Apropos of H.K. Dua’s article “Like it or not, it’s a coalition: Ground realities are asserting at the polls” (April 28), opinion and exit polls indicate a hung Parliament and a coalition government at the Centre. Either the BJP-led NDA or the Congress with its allies may form the government. But one thing is clear. There shall be no third front. This, in a way, will be good because while the single largest political formation will form the government, the Opposition will be equally strong to carry out its responsibilities in a parliamentary democracy.

S.K. MITTAL, Shahpurkandi

II

I feel most citizens don’t vote for an individual on the basis of his/her past contributions but for the party ticket on which he/she is contesting. The voters have learnt many lessons from the promises made by their leaders earlier. Sadly, most representatives have promoted their own interest rather than solving the problems of the poor.

Believe me, the people of my area have never seen the face of their MP since 1999. However, like many others, he too is visiting the people with folded hands to give him one more chance to serve them! This reminds me of the famous Urdu verse of the great poet Mirza Ghalib:

“Kahba Kis Muin Se Jayo Ge Ghalib

Sharam Tum Ko Magar Nahin Aati”

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur (HP)

God save India

Some food for thought for the voters on whom to vote. India is one of the top corrupt nations in Asia (The Tribune, March 13, 2004). The BJP-led government created unemployment by raising the retirement age of Central Government employees from 58 to 60 years, but some States rightly did not follow suit. India is full of scams of one kind or the other. Senior citizens are not given their due and women of all categories, old and young, widows, physically handicapped, freedom fighters, ex-servicemen etc are ignored. But the lawmakers have hiked their pension benefit to Rs 3000 a month.

Two cities are declared most corrupt — Mumbai and Delhi. They are highly populated and home for top political leaders and business magnets. Courts are closed for long vacation and cases are piling up. Suggestions offered to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court or even the President are in vain. They have no time to respond to the ordinary citizen. God save India and its citizens.

Lt-Col P.S. SARANG (retd), Chandigarh

Ban on smoking

Apropos of the editorial “Smoking is killing” (May 1), the government has banned smoking at public places as also tobacco ads in the print and electronic media from May 1. However, while taking this decision, the government has overlooked the fact that most films and serials shown on TV have scenes showing men and women smoking and drinking. Whenever there is a scene that requires a person to look tense or worried, he /she is shown smoking or drinking. The viewers are thus made to believe that drinking and smoking relieve tension, stress, worry and anxiety.

This wrong impression is adversely affecting the psyche of young viewers, who suffer a variety of stresses relating to their studies, exams, finance, employment and so on. This tendency to encourage viewers to believe that smoking and drinking provide relief from tension, worry and so on needs to be curbed. The government should tell film producers and TV serial makers to desist from showing smoking/ drinking scenes. Mere ban will not discourage people from smoking.

O.P. Sharma, Faridabad