M A I L B A G

Acute power crisis in Punjab

A front-page advertisement by the Punjab government (The Tribune, June 27) says that it has laid an electric cable network of 14,175 km to ensure 24 hours power supply to all villages in Punjab. However, the reality is totally different.

Villages don’t get even four hours of uninterrupted power supply. Instead, they face 14-hour power cut daily. The Chief Minister should keep in mind that action speaks louder than words. Highlighting the “achievements” of the government through the media won’t help unless it makes concerted efforts to improve the power crisis.

SUKHDEV SINGH MINHAS, Govt College, Ropar

II

The advertisement on the power situation in Punjab quoting the state Chief Minister is a blatant lie. Not to speak of the 24-hour power supply, we have been experiencing power cuts round the clock some time. The situation in rural Punjab is worse. It is becoming difficult for us to live without power in the humid atmosphere.

Politicians have failed to give a satisfactory explanation on the deteriorating power situation in Punjab. They speak because they must speak. To quote George Bernard Shaw, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than to open it and remove all doubts about it.”

D.V. JOSHI, Bartana (Zirakpur)

Protect AIIMS

India can boast of a very few institutes of higher learning and research comparable with the best of world. New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is one such institute which has made the country proud. For last several years, it has been recognised as one of the best top 10 colleges in the country because of its best administration, faculty, infrastructure and research.

The administrators of such institutes should be given a free hand to do their best to excel and reach dizzy heights of excellence. Any undue interference can really be suicidal for them. Let the AIIMS, a premier medical institute of the country, not lose its glory and witness step-motherly treatment.

Dr SUNIL CHOPRA, Ludhiana

Onus on teachers Though Punjab has made rapid strides in infrastructural development over the years, it continues to remain backward in education. Good teachers are in short supply, especially in the countryside. Students are also deprived of facilities like good libraries, laboratories and sports facilities. How can a competitive environment be created in the towns and villages if students are deprived of these basic infrastructural facilities? Worse, there is the problem of uninterrupted power supply. Despite all these problems, the teachers will have to inspire and motivate the students to study and do well in the examinations. High aims form high character and great objects bring out great minds. Ultimately, the students’ success or failure will squarely depend upon the teachers’ willingness to work hard and impart value-oriented education. M.L. SINHA, Principal, SRC Jain Model High School, Banga

Fake doctors

India is perhaps the only country where people with no valid medical college degree openly practice as doctors. These gentlemen far outnumber the qualified doctors, especially in villages and small towns. They actually play havoc with the health of the gullible public.

To pose as doctors, they display on the boards bogus degrees which have not been awarded by universities and are not recognised by the Medical Council of India. The MCI should allow the display of only academic university qualifications so that the general public is not fooled. The government should take action against fake doctors and stop this nuisance.

GURUSEWAK SINGH, Mohali

Save the garden

I appeal to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to review the decision on converting the Sirinagar Garden in Kandaghat town of Solan district into a playground. This garden was developed by the Patiala Maharaja in 1927 on the pattern of Yadavindra Garden of Pinjore. It has about 1,000 plants of apricot (dwarf quality).

The playground can be constructed in the land located below the present school playground. If the playground has to be constructed in the garden, the same can be developed on the garden’s western wide so that the four beautiful terraces can also be saved.

SUDHIR THAKUR, Advocate, Solan

No salary

I have been working as a science teacher in a government-aided school for the last 23 years. The staff of the aided schools have not been paid salaries for the last five months. The Punjab government has not released grant from January 2006 onwards to these schools. As we are facing hardship, the government should release the grant to these schools immediately.

ASHOK BHANOT, Sr. Secondary School, Jalandhar Cantonment