M A I L B A G

India’s film industry

A very glaring malcontent of the economy of India is its film industry. Gone are the days when this industry would produce films exposing social ills and suggesting measures to cure them. They presented Indian art in a fine way. The dances, the costumes, the manners etc. were praiseworthy and helped to develop a good society. But during the past 15 years the industry has undergone a change for the worse. It has adopted vulgar ways and thrown to the winds, Indian traditions ethos and art. There is nothing but a display of scandalous and vulgar postures which corrupt the young mind.

It is painful to note that the players of this industry are paid enormous amounts for this vulgar display. Moreover, they have the courage to conceal their income and evade income tax and the government cares little to catch them. Why income tax should not be realised from them every year and the defaulters booked and punished under the law is beyond comprehension.

Who does not know that there is a nexus between Bollywood and the underworld dons. It is high time the government wokeup and put this industry back on the rails. By harnessing the undeserved amounts paid to filmstars to the service of the common man, the government will save the moral fibre of society from being torn asunder, besides firming up the country’s economy.

NARESH RAJ, Patiala

Victimised employees

Even after the unconditional withdrawal of the three-month-long pen-down strike by Haryana Government employees belonging to General and Backward Class categories posted at Chandigarh, the state government has not so far revoked the victimisation meted to them during the agitation.

Although the strike was for the implementation of the Apex Court’s verdict, which would have resulted in the reversion of some Scheduled Castes employees who were given promotions on the basis of accelerated seniority after March 1, 1996, yet the state government had declared the strike illegal and invoked E.S.M.A., which resulted in victimisation of the striking employees. The principle of “No work, No pay” was invoked and the services of over 60 striking employees were terminated.

After the failure of the aggrieved SC employees to secure legal remedy against their reversion, the state government had no option but to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court and order reversion of the employees concerned. Thus the demand of the striking employees was conceded.

The state government should resolve this deadlock soon before the issue is given a political colour by the Opposition.

HEMANT KUMAR, Ambala City

Govt buildings

The earthquake in Gujarat has brought to the fore the need for having earthquake resistant designs for our buildings. It has been found that buildings constructed by government departments withstood the shock better than those built by individuals and private builders. The reason seems to be the sound structural design of government buildings.

Punjab and Haryana fall in the earthquake zone-II and III wherein tremors of lower intensity are expected. Earthquake resistant designs in these states will add only three per cent to five per cent to the cost of construction. States in the higher earthquake zones such as Himachal Pradesh must restrict construction activity in earthquake-prone zones.

HARBIR SINGH, Lehra Mohabat (Bathinda)

Nature’s warning

The Malthusian theory says that if man does not check the growth of population then nature will apply its checks. Nature has warned us several times and the latest warning came on Republic Day this year. Time has come for us think seriously about our increasing numbers and the pressure on the resources of this planet.

The Government will have to take some hard decisions. To begin with, let no concession be allowed to a person who has three children or more. Once effective checks on the increasing population are applied, the quality of life of an average Indian will improve.

OM DATT SHARMA, Chandigarh