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Khaps subscribe to Indian philosophy

I endorse D R Chaudhry’s views, expressed in his letter ‘Hooda's claims on khaps not correct’ (October 9) to the extent that there is no scope for violence in dealing with deviant social conduct in the matter of marital affairs. But, simultaneously, I beg to differ strongly with his thrust of the argument to the effect that khaps or people of India for that matter, have to "earn social relevance" as dictated by the age of globalisation, as he puts it.

First and foremost, globalisation is finance centric (trade and profit driven) and not people or culture centric, notwithstanding the cultural spillover effects. Fundamentally, East is East and West is West and the twin will never meet. Even Pope Francis has expressed serious concerns over the increasing deprivation of the marginalised sections of the world population due to the ill-effects of globalisation. The sacred institution of marriage is crumbling in the West marked by over 60 per cent divorce rate, homosexual marriages, live-in relationships and so on. The live-in relationship, the fad in the West, has been legalised by the Supreme Court decision but such "marital" relationships are not socially acceptable at all by Indian people. Are these people (dubbed traditionalists) not globalised since they stick distinctly and steadfastly to their time-tested traditions and customs, the soul of Indian culture. Khaps subscribe to this Indian philosophy.

DR PREM SINGH DAHIYA, Rohtak

Aadhaar lacks basics Though the Aadhaar card is unique in providing digitally verifiable identity and is planned to be used for the delivery of services and benefits to the citizens, it does not certify the basics like citizenship and age of the person which are critical for the intended objectives of the Aadhaar data. It is clearly written in the electronically generated Aadhaar letter that "Aadhar is proof of identity, not of citizenship". The government's plan to link Aadhaar identity with various services and transactions from the government to people like the direct cash transfer of subsidy for LPG cylinder suffers from the infirmity regarding citizenship status of the beneficiary as the Aadhaar card is not the proof of citizenship as written on it. But many services like age-related pensions and concessions, applications for passport and driving licence, know your customer norm, opening of bank and post office accounts, electoral enrolment, mobile phone connections, etc need proof of age with date of birth. Subsequently, from April 2013, the UIDAI started issuing cards with date of birth (DoB) when it had already issued millions of Aadhaar cards with YoB (year of birth) and provided option to people for updating DoB in Aadhaar data. It is a time-consuming process to update the Aadhaar card with DoB, particularly for common people when at the same time the UIDAI could use DoB data already submitted by people at the time of first enrolment. Aadhaar cards suffer from citizenship and age-related limitations and how it would eventually replace other cards is beyond comprehension. DR V R PARSHAD, Ludhiana

Soldiers betrayed

It is a sad state of affairs that the government is deliberately delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court's verdict wherein the arrears arising out of the rectified anomaly of the Sixth Pay Commission were required to be paid with effect from January 1, 2006. Intriguingly, the government has termed it as OROP which is not true as service term benefits have not been included in it. The veterans feel betrayed as the MoD is virtually going against its own soldiers by compulsively appealing against the verdicts handed out by various courts in favour of the ex-servicemen. Such attitude of the government is highly deplorable.

COL KULDIP SINGH GREWAL (RETD), Patiala

Blind faith

Most Indians are religious people, who believe in making prayers and seeking blessings for success and prosperity in life and to get rid of their sufferings, diseases, wants, etc. For them, worship is more important than work and blind faith in someone, with a larger-than-life image, more satisfying and convenient than reasoning. That accounts for the present mushrooming of self-styled godmen in our country with large followings. Apart from misutilising and misdirecting huge human resources of the nation by holding frequent and large congregations, they have amassed huge and unaccounted wealth, built armies of followers and influential connects to shield their dubious and immoral activities.

H L SHARMA, Amritsar

Govt banks

If you give a service tax challan you will not get an acknowledgement immediately but will be asked to come later to collect the challan copy. If you insist on getting the acknowledgement copy, then you are asked numerous questions by the dealing staff. Asking questions, it seems, is a novel way adopted by bank branches for not giving acknowledgements and not to own any responsibility for any technical problem at the branch, non-generation of string as no proof exists having tendered a challan. Even for a cheque tender a duly signed acknowledgement is not given but just the branch rubber stamp on the counterfoil.

S C DHALL, Zirakpur