M A I L B A G

Need to boost the morale of commanders

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam recently presented the battles and theatre honours to the military units, which had performed exceptionally well in Operation Vijay III. Several units of the Army received honours. The Infantry, of course, tops the list with the maximum awards.

These honours are also a reflection of the functional efficiency of the brigades. Of the seven brigades engaged in the Kargil war, the 70 Brigade performed well, while 102 Brigade and 121 Brigade did not achieve much.

However, while honouring the commanders, the Army Headquarters had created a sense of bitterness among the officers. Middle rank officers like Brig Devinder Singh of 70 Brigade, who was lauded by former Defence Minister George Fernandes and two former Chiefs for his performance in the war, has been deprived of promotion on the ground that his conduct of operation was poor.

SHIVANANDA, Chandigarh

II

Despite his laudable performance in the Kargil war, Brig Devinder Singh, Commander of 70 Brigade, has been ignored for promotion. He had actually fought the war and commanded the whole Batalik sector.

Because of his bold initiatives, his Brigade captured a large number of prisoners of war including arms and ammunition from them. Yet, he didn’t get recognition for gallantry. Instead, he was given VSM — a peacetime award.

The Indian Army fought the Kargil war after 27 years. Unfortunately, the politicians and civilians alike saw the gap as a drain on the exchequer but the Indian soldiers proved their competence which needs to be rewarded. Let the nation cry for its soldiers than making them cry for their justified combat actions.

SHAVERI THAKUR, Chandigarh

Sops for industry

The Centre has sanctioned Special Economic Zones (SEZs) all over the country. It is a very positive step for industry. Relaxed labour laws will also help boost industry and generate employment. The SEZs will be a significant milestone. More economic zones can be set up in industrially backward areas for further development.

DEEPAK SARAF, Rampura Phul

Awareness needed

This has reference to Rashme Sehgal’s article, “Law against domestic violence gets delayed” (March 27). Awareness on the new legislation — which empowers women to seek relief and services from the judiciary, police, shelter homes, hospitals and other institutions — needs to be created in each and every woman before she gets married.

Awareness through the print and electronic media and integration of it as a new chapter in the syllabi at the school and college level is the need of hour.

AMAN INDER SINGH, Patiala

New pension plan

The new pension scheme (March 26) as notified by the government will benefit many ex-servicemen below the officer rank. However, since most servicemen in the lower ranks retire very early, they will not get a justifiable pension even if the weightage of 10, eight and six years is given to Sepoy, Naik and Havildar respectively.

The pension for those who fall short of 33 years service will just be a meager increase. Instead of the maximum limit of 33 years, it should be 25 years so that the benefit given to these pensioners automatically gets increased, that too, to more personnel.

Col M.S. BEHL (retd), Gurdaspur

No wheat flour

There has been shortage of wheat flour in the depots of Nahan town for the last three months. As a result, the consumers are forced to buy it from the open market at higher rates. This is a huge burden on the lower middle class families. The authorities concerned should intervene immediately to solve the problem.

T.S. TOMAR, Nahan (HP) 

Decadence of moral values According to reports, though a model’s dress slipped off at the Lakme India Fashion Show recently, she picked up her dress and continued to walk down the ramp towards the audience. The audience approved of her conduct and appreciated her studied indifference to her own situation. The fashion designer, whose clothes she was wearing, was pleased with her so-called professionalism and expressed his satisfaction that she was a part of his display. The attitude and demeanor demonstrated by the fashion world is a reflection of the extent of decadence of moral values in our country. Once upon a time, fashion in India had to do with neatly draped sarees and brightly coloured ethnic dresses. Nowadays, even the nakedness of the models does not change the colour of the face of the models or the audience. SHIRIN KHOKHAWALA, Byculla, Mumbai