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The veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu has left behind a rich legacy. However, today, it is not only the communists who think of the poor. Other national parties too have the welfare of the poor in mind.

The CPM should work to become a national party. This is possible only if it sheds its rigid stance, set notions and anti-US rhetoric. It must adopt a more flexible attitude and think with a wider perspective. The party should play a larger role in nation building with talented, selfless and committed workers at its disposal.

MADHU RD SINGH, Ambala Cantt

Holidays rain

Mr Parkash Singh Badal has a passion for declaring holidays on the most frivolous pretext. He is more keen on declaring holidays rather than finding ways to improve the health of the state’s economy. But what really hurts is that he has no heart to visualise the discomforts and problems such acts bring to the common man. We all know that nothing moves without the permission from the government departments.

Imagine the plight of the people who in this biting winter travel from places like Ferozepur, Amritsar and Bhatinda to reach the department concerned at Chandigarh on time, only to be informed after reaching that a holiday has been declared. 

What is shocking is that ruling partner BJP protests vociferously if any of their powers are curtailed. But they are silent on matters directly related with governance.

BHARTENDU SOOD, Chandigarh

Demat degrees

The Centre’s decision to make available online in the electronic format all educational degrees and certificates from the school to the university level is laudable. It would go a long way in checking the racket of fake degrees.

SUBHASH C TANEJA, Rohtak

Governors’ appointment

It is indeed quite strange that Mr Shivraj Patil who utterly failed as the Union Home Minister and had to be shown the door has been appointed the Governor of Punjab with additional charge of the UT Chandigarh Administrator. (News report, “Patil to be Punjab Guv”, Jan 17).

The Governor is the chancellor of all the universities in the state and by virtue of being in this chair enjoys authority and power. He can be instrumental in making or breaking a state government at the behest of the Centre. Obviously then, well-qualified persons of repute who have outstanding and significant achievements to their credit should be appointed governors. It is all the more necessary when the present day legislators, parliamentarians, ministers, chief ministers and even union ministers are not adequately qualified and a sizeable number of them have a criminal background.

The procedure for appointment of governors should be well-defined and the Opposition as well as the chief minister of the state must be consulted before appointing them.

Dr R K SHARMA, Faridabad

Punish the corrupt

Lately, certain elements in the judiciary, army, police, bureaucracy and the state legislatures have been in the news for reasons not so edifying. Almost every institution is slipping into the abyss of corruption with little or no light at the end of the tunnel.

Transparency is the answer to the fast spreading malaise. Those who try to exploit the loopholes in the law of the land and claim exemption from scrutiny or interpret laws and rules to suit their pursuit of self-aggrandisement must be exposed. Punishment for the corrupt should be very harsh.  

RJ KHURANA, Bhopal

Rising prices

Despite mounting pressure from the people and the Opposition, the government has been unable to mitigate the effects of inflation. Further more, the Agriculture Minister’s statement on sugar prices depicts frustration and apathy. When it comes to inflation, the UPA could learn a lesson from its predecessors.

 SURAJ & R KAPOOR, Solan

Suicidal stress

The sudden surge in cases of suicides among adolescents is a matter of concern. Students are unduly stressed under a system that values only the best. Burdened with a plethora of problems, they find themselves a misfit in society and opt for this extreme desperate act.

The real culprits are undoubtedly teachers, parents and society. We have unrealistic expectations from children without assessing their intrinsic abilities.

An ideal school is the one which focuses on the harmonious development of its students and provides a study-friendly atmosphere. Spare the rod and spoil the child is a thing of past. Corporal punishment breeds only disregard and rebellion. We must feel the pulse of the student and assess his or her area of interest. Films such as Black and Taare Zameen Par have shown that even special children can do wonders, provided they are treated with love and affection.

We must try our best to sort out the emotional and the psychological problems of our students. Studies should become a passion and not a problem for students.