M A I L B A G

Rotten food: book corrupt officers

The front-page news-item “Anganwadis continue to get rotten eatables” (July 15) along with the photo of the rotten food expose the corrupt, shameless and unscrupulous officers who did little even after The Tribune’s two reports — “Rotten food for kids at Anganwadis” (May 27) and “Clicked replacing rotten eatables at Anganwadis” (May 29).

It is a matter of national shame that corrupt and unscrupulous officers are playing with the health of little children just to make money. This episode has also exposed the insensitivity of our politicians and the social groups who were silent till the other day in protesting against this heinous act.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court should take suo motu notice of this and act accordingly. What was the Deputy Commissioner doing for about one and a half months since the exposure of the latest scam? The government will have to act and punish the guilty involved in the incident.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA,
Bathinda

II

The Tribune had highlighted this unfortunate state of affairs many times earlier but FIR was registered only on July 15. Before this FIR, no action was taken by the district administration against the suppliers of rotten eatables and the officers responsible for their distribution among the innocent children and expectant poor mothers.

Reports say, 80 per cent of samples failed during the probe conduct by the SDM in this connection. The administration was waiting for a tragedy to happen at the Anganwadi centre. Stern action should be taken against all those involved in the episode.

K.R. RAJU,
Advocate, Mohali

IMDT in another form Reports say the UPA government is planning to short-circuit the Supreme Court ruling on the Illegal Migrants Determination (by Tribunals) Act by bringing it in another form. For, it fears that it would lose a sizeable Muslim vote bank as the issue has come before the State Assembly elections due in February. Surprisingly, no one talks of the national interest. Islamic terrorism is gaining a strong foothold all over the subcontinent, particularly in the North-East and large parts of Bihar and West Bengal. Repeated warnings have been given on the dangerous impact of demographic changes brought about by large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh. UDITA AGRAWAL, New Delhi

Plug the loopholes

The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s stay on PMET counselling will affect the careers of hundreds of aspiring medicos. First, the test was cancelled due to leakage of question papers. And now the faulty evaluation needed a review of the whole examination system. If the entrance test system is to stay, every effort should be made to make it foolproof.

Those found guilty in the two episodes should be promptly identified and severely punished to make the system just, workable and efficient. The parents’ hard-earned money and their wards’ labour become meaningless when a student with 1850 rank in the first entrance test tops the next one.

Lack of accountability of the teaching faculty has led to mushrooming of tuition centres wherein question papers are bought and sold so blatantly. Teachers should teach only in the schools/colleges, not outside.

Dr AMRIT SETHI, Bathinda

II

This refers to the news-item “Baba Farid University grapples to come to terms with scam” (July 19). The government can make a fresh beginning by appointing a new Vice-Chancellor at the earliest. He must be a person with a proven track record in integrity, academics and administration.

Though there is no dearth of talent within the state, the government should not hesitate to look beyond Punjab for the right person who can revive medical education in state.

DINESH KUMAR, Amritsar

Al-Qaeda’s ways

Al-Qaeda and its likes represent a suppressed society who has for hundreds of years watched the overflowing coffers of the mighty countries and has seen them hankering for more. Their patience seems to have reached the end of their tether now and they are asking for their share with ruthlessness that is just not allowing them to think of innocent lives.

Though nearly half the UK population didn’t want Mr Tony Blair as their Prime Minister, they are paying the price for his misdeeds now!

MINI SAPRA, Ambala City

SCs in Punjab

Anita Katyal’s view that the Scheduled Caste population in Punjab is close to 24 per cent is incorrect (July 14). The figure should have been 28.85 per cent (Census of India 2001, Punjab). The proportion for the SCs to the total population in this region has been consistently rising from 22.3 per cent in 1961 to 24.7 per cent in 1971, 26.8 per cent in 1981 and 28.3 per cent in 1991.

Among all the states, Punjab with 28.3 per cent SCs of its total population stands out most prominently. Himachal Pradesh has 25.34 per cent SCs, West Bengal 23.62 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 21.04 per cent.

MANOJ KUMAR BIRDI, Jalandhar

A rhyme

When you are in power and at peak,

Friends and foes touch your feet.

When you lose power and fall from grace,

Even some friends spit at your face.

If Khurana has hit poor Advani,

Nothing strange, it is world’s reet purani.

K.S. BHALLA, 
New Delhi