The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Promoting investor confidence

There are many mutual fund schemes where investors are required to contribute a minimum for three years. Agents don’t disclose this aspect while selling the scheme to investors. They entice the investors by concealing more than what they disclose. When investors are scared to give second or third annual instalment, fund managers tell them that they won’t get any redemption amount if the policy is terminated without paying the three instalments.

The government can boost investors’ confidence by taking the following measures: First, any scheme where the principle amount i.e. face value is reduced to less than 80 per cent, investors should be given the option to exit without contributing three compulsory annual instalments. Secondly, the government should immediately put restriction on the salaries of the executives/ fund managers of Mutual Funds. How can they be allowed to draw fancy salaries when investors are facing severe erosion in investment amount? And finally, all mutual funds should make public their projected cash flow for the next three years.

BHARTENDU SOOD, Chandigarh

Unity paramount

Regional and intra-state goondaism is threatening national unity and integrity. The Government of India should maintain law and order and those instigating or indulging in violence must be severely punished.

The cat and mouse game played by the government is not effective as the politicians bail out their own people and cases drag on endlessly in the courts. This encourages criminals to circumvent the law and get away scot-free.

H. KALSI, New Jersey (USA)

Raj Thackeray cannot be allowed to tear away the unity and integrity of the country. But regionalism as a concept is more dangerous than Raj Thackeray. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote a strongly worded letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister. He voiced concern about the rising incidence of violence against North Indians.

But consider what Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is now saying. Mr Sharad Pawar hasn’t opened his mouth so far on the violence against North Indians.

RAJ BAHADUR, Fatehabad

III

How long will Raj Thackeray be tolerated by the government? The way Thackeray glorifies provincialism is harmful for national integrity. The Centre should read the writing on the wall. If political parties in North India emulate Thackeray, India’s integrity will be threatened.

Thackeray should keep in mind that if Mumbai is India’s financial capital, it is not only because of the toil of Marathi people but also by those from the nook and corner of the country.

MAJOR SINGH MANGHERA, Moga

Finest filmmaker

Baldev Raj Chopra was one of the best filmmakers. He was associated with many films in various capacities as writer, producer and director. We can never forget his masterpiece, Dhool ka Phool in 1959 and the memorable song Tu Hindu banega na Musalman banega, Insan ki aulad hai Isan banega.

He was, certainly, the best in directing court scenes, murder mysteries and ticklish comedies. Pati Patni Aur Woh and Insaf Ka Tarazu are some of his masterpieces. His immense contribution for television is the great epic Mahabharat.

Dr NARESH RAJ, Patiala

Research needed

Of late, the government has been laying much emphasis on non-pollution vehicles to check pollution. Every vehicle is required to get a certificate of non-pollution. However, all our schemes fail when the farmer at the end of the paddy season is compelled to burn the paddy residual in the field.

Our agricultural experts should do research on this problem. Only then, we can live in a pollution-free atmosphere.

SURINDER KUMAR GARG, Samana (Patiala)

Rudi in action

It was shocking to see Umpire Rudi Koertzen in action during India’s recent series with Aussies. His decisions were always in favour of Aussies. Some time back, Aussies had Steve Bucknor on their payroll and he served them with unflinching loyalty till he met his Waterloo.

Rudi tried to do the job left unfinished by Bucknor in a more subtle and refined manner. Aussies should, perhaps, reserve an award for him when he retires.

ARUN TULSHAN, Kolkata

Disparity in pension revision
There is disparity in the revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners/ family pensioners from January 1, 2006. The benefit is not available to most except almost relevant to Pay Band IV and above pay scales corresponding to the pre-revised pay scales from which they had retired. The reason: the minimum of the revised pay bands from (IS to PB-3) has been kept lower.
The Centre must ensure that the fixation of pension subject to the provision that revised pension will in no case be lower than 50 per cent of the last pay drawn in the pre-revised scale, multiplying by a factor of 1.86 and rounding off the resultant figure to the next multiple of 10 plus the grade pay in the pay band corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired.
The government should consider whichever is more beneficial to him/her from the above two alternatives.
A.N. GUPTA, Karnal