M A I L B A G

Tax payer’s burden

The tax payer’s hard earned money is often misused, misappropriated and squandered by ministers, bureaucrats and lesser officials. One wonders whether under these circumstances, evading tax is wrong or immoral? Is the parallel economy a bane or a boon for the nation? After all, Gandhiji also used salt tax as a means of protest.

Time has come to examine the issue of excessive burden on the tax payer to pay for the grand lifestyle of the ruling elite. Downsizing of Government has become essential.

SUMANDEEP KAPOOR, 
Jalandhar Cantt

Couple’s income

The Government of India is looking for financial resources to cope with the burden of relief and rehabilitation in Gujarat. The Prime Minister has indicated that the budget is going to be harsh. In this context, a vital source has not caught the notice of the economists, i.e to club the incomes of husband and wife as one unit. If couples, either in service or partners in business, are asked to pay taxes on their joint income, the Government will get nearly Rs 4000 crore. The extra rebate in standard deductions allowed to women should also be reviewed.

J. K. MAGO,
Panchkula

Pak game

The massacre of innocent people in Kashmir by militants trained in Pakistan has made the intentions of Pakistan clear. On the one hand Pakistan is extending a helping hand for the quake-hit Gujarat and on the other it is pursuing its designs in Kashmir. The game of Gen Pervez Musharraf is now clear. The Sikhs of Kashmir are so terrified that they want to migrate from Kashmir. If such a thing happens, it will be a victory for Pakistan. But the people there (both Sikhs and Muslims) have vowed to live in Kashmir and fight the terrorists together. The central and state governments should assure these terrified people that their lives will be protected at any cost.

People’s blood is being shed in the wake of the extended ceasefire. It become the duty and responsibility of the Prime Minister to see that this blood does not go in vain.

GAGANDEEP KAUR, 
Yamunanagar

Tobacco menace

It is unbelievable that out of the 30 lakh persons in world who die of tobacco-related diseases every year, about 10 lakh are from India.

Tobacco is thus more dangerous than earthquake. The Gujarat earthquake killed 30,000 persons. Clearly, tobacco kills about 30 times more.

The biggest problem caused by tobacco is to non-smokers. They have to suffer because of other people smoking near them. The Government’s move to curb the use of tobacco in public places is highly appreciable.

SARBJEET SINGH “KANWAL”,
Patiala

Freedom fighters

The Government of India has given many concessions to freedom fighters. They are invited to all national festivals and other functions held by the government. They are also paid a monthly pension.

State Governments have reserved two per cent of the seats in technical institutions for their sons, daughters, grandsons or granddaughters. Two per cent of the vacancies in the states are also reserved for them. I fail to understand why the Central Government has not made a similar reservation in various all-India competitive examinations. Justice and fairplay demand that they should be given two per cent reservation in all types of administrative and other central services.

NARESH RAJ, 
Patiala

Irrigation facilities

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh has announced his commitment to provide irrigation facilities in Himachal Pradesh. But experience shows that a large number of irrigation schemes have failed in the past for want of funds. Despite all the schemes, irrigated land in the state comprises about 18 per cent of the total cultivated area. It is mainly because the kuhals were traditionally managed on cooperative basis, but this system has been abandoned altogether. The second reason is the reckless lifting of sand, gravel and stones from the beds of streams. Moreover, deforestation has lowered the bed-level of these streams. Raising high seasonal barrages on these streams is beyond the capacity of the farmers.

Instead of launching major irrigation schemes, minor schemes should be initiated and called ‘Khet Bhi Apna Pani Bhi Apna’. This can rouse the interest of the people who have shown tremendous enthusiasm for constructing school buildings, dharamshalas and temples.

PARKASH CHANDER MISHRA,
Rora (Palampur)