M A I L B A G

Children must take care of their parents

This refers to front-page report, “They organise their own bhog lest children back out” (Dec 28) and the editorial “Living dead” (Dec 29). The whole episode is a shame on the part of the family of this aged couple. Little did they know that their children would leave them in the lurch. They must have distributed sweets among people at their birth. It is equally shameful that their daughters are also a part of this episode. It’s time for them to change their property will, if possible.

The whole instance is hard fact of life. It is imperative that old age homes must take care of the aged. Only those children should become a part of their parents’ property who serve them in their hour of need.

It is also important that the joint family system must be encouraged. Generation gap should be minimised. Moral and spiritual values, especially among the young ones, need to be inculcated to serve the aged.

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepur City

II

This extreme step is a classic example of what kind of respect our children have towards their parents. I will blame the influence of western culture for this breakdown of family ties.

According to the Hindu tradition, children should always obey their father’s words. They should never disobey their parents and the guru; they should never be insulted. There is no sinner in world equal to the son who insults any of the three. Father will have to be shown deepest reverence by his children.

BALDEV SINGH, Shimla

III

The incident is awful and alarming. The story of Ajmer Singh and his wife is only illustrative. How many insincere and greedy children leave their old and helpless parents in the lurch when they really need their help and shelter? Unfortunately, we have become too materialistic in our approach.

The concept of old-age home should be considerably encouraged. The old and the weak have also a right to laugh and smile. Social organisations and charitable institutions should avail themselves of the opportunity to rehabilitate them. At the same time, we must accept the fact that property alone cannot give us happiness. We should avoid amassing wealth by dishonest, illegal and deceitful means.

K.K. PURI, Gurdaspur

Safety in construction

The report “Delhi mall caves-in leaves 11 dead” (Dec 26) makes sad reading. Though such incidents have occurred in the past, we haven’t learnt any lesson from them. Construction of a mall is large project.

Activities and procedures adopted at such a construction site should have been well organised. We can expect such mishaps at small projects executed by petty contractors, but not at big projects. The incident demands exemplary action by the authorities.

During a national seminar on ‘Safety in construction’ held at Kalagram, Chandigarh (May 30-31, 2005), it was suggested that all excavations should be carried out in a scientific manner by protecting the side slopes of excavations against caving by providing gentle slopes or by bracing and shoring of steep cuts. We feel sad that the advice remains unheeded.

JAGVIR GOYAL, Chandigarh

Musharraf’s gesture

Congrats to Pakistan President General General Musharraf for having decorated a Sikh officer with a high rank in Pakistani Army.

By doing so, Pakistan is apparently trying to create an impression that it would restore democracy in the country.

If so, it would be the eighth wonder on the earth. Is it the General’s new idea to win popularity among Pakistanis and other countries?

SURINDER KAUR, Balwanda (Gurdaspur)

Restore status quo

The Punjab government had reduced the rate of commutation from 10.46 to 6.21 per cent to pensioners. This is gross injustice to the retirees.

Neither the Centre nor any state has reduced this benefit. Punjab should restore status quo ante and help the pensioners.

SHUBH LATA, Naggal Sirsa (Ropar)

Sports university

I do not agree with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s off-the-cuff decision to establish a defence university at the cost of the National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala. If at all NIS is being wound up, we should not lose out on the huge infrastructure created by spending crores of public money.

It would have added to his prudence had the Chief minister asked for a sports university at the present NIS location using the existing sports facilities.

The land available near Aviation Club could be used for the proposed defence university. The announcement was perhaps made to woo the ex-servicemen’s votes in the ensuing Assembly elections.

Col KULDIP SINGH GREWAL (retd), Patiala

Punjab must follow Haryana To provide relief to students from taking multiple engineering entrance tests and consequent financial hardship, the Haryana government has rightly decided to abolish the state entrance test for admission to all BE/B.Tech courses offered by the government, aided and self-financing colleges and universities in the state from 2006-07. The seats will be filled purely on the basis of the candidates’ rank in the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE). Major engineering institutes like Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, NITs and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, already follow this criterion for admission. The Punjab government should emulate Haryana and admit students to the state’s engineering colleges and universities on the basis of the AIEEE merit list. Like the IIT, the CBSE too should open examination centres in cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana. JOGINDER SINGH MALHI, Sathiala (Amritsar)