Do not sacrifice merit

“GOVERNMENT reviewing SC orders” (December 6) clearly indicates that the Vajpayee Government has also fallen in the cesspool of vote-bank politics, which will certainly cause irreparable loss to the nation. It also exposes the hollowness of the tall claims made by the BJP of being a truly nationalist party, working for the welfare of the nation.

The bitter experience of the last nearly 50 years has been that the sacrifice of merit on the altar of vote-bank politics has done colossal damage to the nation. The caste-based reservations have resulted in the overall deterioration in all walks of life, falling working standards of the government sector, caste conflicts and growing frustration among the people.

Otherwise also, the caste-based reservations are not only against the principle of equality and justice enshrined in the Constitution, but also criminal violation of the basic human rights of the citizens. If the idea is to improve the lot of the poor people, then the criteria for the reservations should be economic rather than the castes and religions. But in that too the merit should not be sacrificed at any cost.

A.K. SHARMA
Chandigarh

Synthetic milk, ghee

Adulteration of milk and milk products is an age-old practice for petty extra gain. Admittedly, these are in short supply. An ordinary man cannot afford to give a glass of milk (Rs 15 per litre) and some butter fat (Rs 135 per kg) to each member of his family. This situation gave rise to synthetic milk production. Synthetic milk has been so intelligently designed that it cannot be tested in ordinary milk testing laboratories. It shows that those who manufacture synthetic milk or ghee are people of extraordinary capability with good technical education and finance too.

Apparently, it is a social problem to channelise such talented individuals or the groups towards the right direction for the benefit of the public and these persons too. Literature speaks of artificial milk production from vegetable source — soyabean, groundnut, almonds and even rice (The Tribune, 30.11.99). It is time to take up such a venture in the right earnest. Such milk may be sold with truthful labelling quoting composition and price. Being commercially produced, the cost will be less than milk from cows and buffaloes. Similarly, a substitute of milk fat can be prepared from the vegetable source keeping in view findings of experts in this line. For example, Asst Dietician, PGI, Chandigarh, reported vide. The Tribune of 6.3.1997 that refined sunflower and sunflower oils consumed largely as edible oils are very high in free oxygen radicals which are dangerous to human body.

Coping with the huge demand of milk and milk products is a big task for which organisations concerned are striving hard since Independence (1947) and the picture is still gloomy. There is a limit to genetic improvement of indigenous livestock. Further, supply of improved fodders shall remain a big limitation due to shrinking of agricultural area and diversion of it to cereals, sugar, fibre and agro-forestry etc. Experience of past five decades shows that we cannot expect much from this approach and have to consider artificial milk production industrially.

Our suggestion to makers of synthetic milk and ghee is to divert their talent, energies and finance in the right direction for the benefit of the masses. They should prepare acceptable milk and ghee etc from the vegetable source and earn credit from the government and the regulating institutions who exercise control over such commodities.

MANMOHAN SINGH
Chandigarh

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Age limit

On account of the raising of the upper age limit (for recruitment to the Haryana Services) from 35 to 40, the Haryana Public Commission has issued a corrigendum (Tribune, Dec 6) that the last date for submission of application forms has been extended up to December 20. It further provides that the eligibility of candidates applying in response to this corrigendum (with regard to qualifications) will be determined as on Dec 20 and with regard to age as on January 1,1999.

There is a catch in the situation, which may be vulnerable on the yardstick of constitutional test. If the date has been extended for whatever reasons, there is no reason why the benefit thereof should not be made available to the candidates who are not availing of raising of the upper age limit. It may well be that the corrigendum is not happily worded. Even otherwise, the government will earn the gratitude of students by providing that all the candidates, who have become eligible on point of eligibility on 20.12.1999, would be eligible to avail of the extended date. When the benefit is being extended by the government to the people of higher age group, the government should also extend this benefit to the people of younger age group, who have obtained the qualifying examination by 20.12.1999.

P. M. ANAND
Chandigarh

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Orissa tragedy

The cyclone in Orissa has left hundreds of children orphan and homeless. They are just like any other children and full of life. But orphans find their nights too dark and too lonely without their parents. The cyclone struck and waves from the sea gobbled up their small roadside huts and washed away everyone at home.

There is no hope that their relatives will look after the parentless youngsters for long. There is a possibility that the orphans will be looked after for the time being by the greedy relatives to grab land that their parents may have left behind or the funds given by the government.

Now it depends upon the people how they face the problem. People should be motivated to join the battle which the cyclone-hit peoples are fighting. It is not their battle alone, but it is a national issue and our fight. It is not only a battle but also a challenge which we the people have to face and fight with determination.

SUNIL DOGRA
Chandigarh