Surprisingly, the state is groaning under a heavy debt burden and its revenue deficit is mounting. The horticulture sector has done the state proud by improving its per capita income, but fruit-growing belts are in utter neglect. They lack good roads and a better transport system to carry the produce to the market.

 Roads are in a deplorable condition and hence frequent fatal accidents. Similarly, the education sector is crumbling. All government schools are devoid of basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water and roof over heads. Teaching staff is more often than not remains absent from duties or are on other assignments.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is a popular leader and according to his own admission, it is his last term. It is high time he concentrated on boosting the state’s economic development which will be his best parting gift to the people of the state.                                                                              

RM RAMAUL, Paonta Sahib

Angelina Jolie

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s mother died of cancer at 56. Because of the family history, Angelina chose to voluntarily undergo a genetic test and found that she had inherited a risky mutation in her BRCA 1 gene. This meant that she had the risk of breast tissue being removed from both her breasts. By undergoing a double mastectomy, she has not only removed the risk of breast cancer but also encouraged other women to shun inhibitions making their doubts regarding the fatal disease known to at least doctors. The government should hold health awareness camps for women from time to time for the early detection of breast and cervical cancers. It should ensure that all such patients are given free and timely treatment.

CHAITANYA GUPTA, Phagwara

Forest fires

In summers, forest fires are a common occurrence in Himachal Pradesh. Also, it is a great nuisance for officials of the Fire and Forest Departments who have to tackle with these. It is strange that our firefighting equipments are old and unable to control a major fire in forests. As a result, the state has to face the loss of trees, animals and sometimes even human lives. The state government would do well to modernise all fire offices and provide new firefighting equipments.

SUBEDAR-MAJOR KC SHARMA (RETD), Kangra

Eliminate TB

Apropos of the editorial ‘Drug-resistant TB strain’ (May 23), it is shocking to learn that even after 65 years of Independence, India still has over 2 millions of TB patients, while US has totally eliminated this dreaded disease. 

According to the editorial, out of estimated over two million TB patients, 1,660 were notified and only 1,136 patients received complete treatments. This is a horrible performance. Besides, this is a reflection of successive governments’ apathy and lack of concern towards the well-being of countrymen. The best way to eliminate TB in India is to outsource this job to an American healthcare company. 

SUBHASH C CHAUDHRY, USA

Unhappy with judiciary

There is no denying the fact that the common man is increasingly getting disillusioned with the judiciary. In fact, for the common man, the judiciary stands for delays and prohibitive expenses.

However, to my mind, the judiciary still remains the best hope for the nation at large. But for the judiciary, especially at the higher rungs, the country’s cherished democratic tripod would have collapsed long ago. Let us hope that those manning the temples of justice would spare no pains to keep the flag of judiciary flying high.