M A I L B A G

There are lessons to be learnt
from China

Apropos "The cat that can catch mice” (June 29) by Mr Hari Jaisingh, I want to make three points which I think have contributed to China's development:

(a) The Chinese have implemented the "one-child" formula in letter and in spirit which helped them control the population

(b) There are more bicycles in the Chinese capital than automobiles. Thus they save fuel which has significant effects upon their economy.

(c) There is a work culture which is helpful in increasing the earning of foreign exchange.

MOHAN SINGH, Bathinda Cantt

Hard working: The Chinese are very hard working and industrious people while we Indians are easy- going and lethargic. This is the only reason that we have been left far behind China in every walk of life with the exception that we are the largest democracy and they are the totalitarian communists. But our democracy is hollow from within because the rule of law has been replaced by the law of jungle.

Now we require discipline, work culture, honesty, dedication and commitment to our country so that we can compete with China at the global level.

K L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI, Kapurthala

Tribal conflicts

This refers to the news item, “Govt, Army locks horns over grazing zones” (June 29). There are more dimensions to the problem than merely one of security risk. The Suru valley is inhabited by Shia Muslims and Buddhists; the pattern shifts from Shia Muslims at Kargil to Buddhists as one travels up the valley, up to Pinsila Pass from where the Zanskar region starts, which is inhabited mostly by Buddhists.

The Suru valley is narrow and has limited grazing areas and this is compounded by the fact that the valley remains under snow for long periods i.e. from the end of October to about the middle of May. The yearly arrival of Bakarwals and Gujjars with a large flock of sheep and herds of other animals in the Suru valley has been a source of ethnic conflict whose roots lie in economic considerations.

The locals have been protesting against this yearly influx as it cuts into the very limited resources (grazing areas) which are not even sufficient for the local animals. The state administration has been biased against the Shia Muslims and Buddhists and least sensitive to the needs of these ethnic groups.

While travelling through the Suru valley in 1990, I was stopped by a group of Buddhist monks and local Shia leaders and handed over a petition listing their problems, particularly one pertaining to the ingress of outside grazing animals and depriving them of their limited resources. No civil administrative officer had cared to address their grievances and in fact were perceived to be biased and therefore, they decided to place these before a senior Army officer passing that way. I passed on their petition to then Chief Secretary V.K. Kapoor and later, at a meeting, checked if he had received it and that he had taken the necessary corrective action. He assured me that he had done the needful.

It is our inability to address even ordinary problems and take timely corrective actions that has invariably led to unrest and conflicts in the tribal areas, particularly in the North-East. It is not a question of the government and the Army locking horns, but one of insensitive, biased and inept administration. Finally, while Bakarwals and Gujjars have been pro-India, of late changes in attitudes have been taking places and there have been instances of terrorists from across the border taking help from this group to move into the interior.

Lt-Gen HARWANT SINGH(retd), Chandigarh