Sunday, September 29, 2002		Feedback

Woes of ex-servicemen

THIS refers to "Military elite hold the key to development" by Vijay Oberoi.

I fully endorse the writer’s views that because of a lack of effective monitoring, implementation and accountability, the welfare schemes for ex-servicemen have not produced results. In this highly competitive world only properly trained persons can find a firm footing in the professional world. A large number of ex-servicemen hail from rural areas. They also retire at comparatively young ages and have low qualifications. Hence, the chances of making a satisfactory second career are bleak. As such Dynamic Development Administration seems to be an uphill task.

Partap Singh, Kainthan

As a response to the published prize-winning entries on: "Do working women make better wives and mothers?" , I would like to say of all write-ups, Aditi Gupta’s and Poonam Kirpal’s balanced, objective treatment of the subject make an impression. The others seemed to be vying with one another to glorify the working woman and chose to see her through rose-tinted glasses in a narrow perspective.

In their over-zealous attempts to hype pseudo-modern, feminist ideas, they left practicality far behind and projected the working woman as a super-woman who has ‘quality’ time for the family after a full day’s work! Most appear to think neglected children ought to lap up material goods as compensation for absentee mothers. These write-ups indicate that the sole purpose of education is self-gratification through financial independence at all cost.

I am a qualified career woman who has temporarily chosen to be a housewife during the formative years of my children. Having seen both worlds, I can safely say, a woman who chooses to be, can be a supportive wife irrespective of the state of her occupation. When a job puts at stake the upbringing of young children, it is time for working women to stop and re-think priorities and compromises.

Gurvinder Sohi, 56 APO

This refers to Taru Bahl’s "My home is not dysfunctional" September 1). In modern times, it is not easy for a man to be an ideal husband, an ideal father and an ideal son at the same time. Randhir’s commitment to his children was exemplary although he did not realise his failure as a husband. But it would not be right to call his home a dysfunctional. A child needs equal commitment from both parents along with a congenial environment at home and not over-commitment from anyone. Randhir’s wife assumed the role of an excellent wife and a caring mother but she should have trusted her husband and talked to him about the matter.

Vinish Garg, Panchkula