M A I L B A G

Need to popularise birth control measures

The editorial “Checking birth rate” (July 2) has rightly pointed out the lackluster performance of the BIMARU states which encompass the so-called cow belt insofar as population stabilisation is concerned. One, however, expects the media to be more proactive on issues of paramount national importance and population stabilisation is one such issue. It has been known for at least a decade and a half that the failure of these states — Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh — to put their act together has distorted the big picture.

It is the moral obligation of the media to demand and elicit responses from the governments of these states to the following questions. First, how long do they intend to remain in this state of “ill-health”? Secondly, have they developed a vested interest in maintaining the status quo? Thirdly, when will they stand up and be counted along side states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh etc? And finally, will they ever find time from their birthday extravaganzas, lathi shows, fancy rallies, and vote bank politics of Mandir and Masjid and will they please, for a change, learn to govern?

M.K. BAJAJ, Yamunanagar

II

The easiest way to check population explosion is to create awareness on the various birth control measures among the poor and the uneducated masses of the country. Easy access to cheap condoms would go a long way in checking the population growth.

V.K. SHARMA, Shimla

III

It has been proved beyond doubt that educated couples tend to follow the small family norm scrupulously as in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA, Rohtak

Review revaluation fee The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education has introduced revaluation of the answer scripts of Matric and Plus Two examinations of candidates. The School Board charges Rs 150 as revaluation fee per script. Consequently, the Board earns lakhs of rupees every year. On revaluation, in some cases, there is an increase of 15-20 per cent marks. For no fault of theirs, the candidates have to dole out a hefty amount. They have to pay this through their nose for the blunders committed by the valuators. In no case should the difference of marks on revaluation be more than 5 per cent. On revaluation, if the difference is 10 per cent or more, the fee for revaluation should be refunded to the candidates. The amount (equal to the revaluation fee) should be deducted from the remuneration payable to the examiner who had first assessed the answer paper. Not only this, to make the valuation work transparent and accountable, the defaulting examiners ought to be debarred from valuation work in future. IQBAL SINGH, Bijhari

Tread with caution

Apropos of Mr S. Nihal Singh’s article “Troops: Attempts to please US” (June 24), it has made me to reflect on the United States’ hegemonic tendencies under the grab of a new world order.

“We must Americanise the world”, thundered Theodore President Roosevelt. “We are Anglo-Saxons and must obey our blood and occupy new markets and if necessary new lands”, said Mr Albert E. Beveridge, a Senator, about the real American designs. This was in early 20th century.

Edged on by the strategists, missionaries, the MNCs and the business elite, the cowboy is running roughshod towards Yankee imperialism in the 21st century. Iraq with her second largest oil reserves in the world became the target. If it were not so, then why the building of the Ministry of Oil in Iraq remained untouched?

It is not reconstruction that worries the US; it is the rising that may erupt around Baghdad, Falluja and Tikrit that bothers Americans. Memories of Vietnam and the innumerable bodybags still haunt them.

India should take a moral stand and keep off “the feast of the vultures” as some call the coalition that invaded Iraq. The demand for troops is neither for “peace keeping” nor for a “conflict resolution” and certainly not within the aegis of the UN. Which self-respecting country would allow her troops to work under another nation’s command?

KRISHAN SHARMA, Panchkula

II

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has compared German Deputy Martin Schulz to a Nazi concentration camp guard, outraging the whole of Europe. Well, we all now know, for sure, what manner of men and minds supported President Bush in his invasion of Iraq (Berlusconi having been in the forefront of them)!

C.A.L. MULANG UNNATHUKAVU, Mumbai

Teachers’ transfer

Apropos of the report “Teachers flouting rules transferred” (The Tribune, June 3), I contradict the facts by pointing out that they reflect the biased opinion of the correspondent concerned.

Certain adjustments were made to send teachers from schools where they were surplus to those schools where teachers were required against vacant posts before I relinquished the charge. However, the same were not transfers as they were done within the Block and in accordance with the powers vested in me.

I was repatriated as Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Baijnath, on compassionate grounds, following my request to the Himachal Pradesh Government. The news item, on the contrary, has tried to tarnish my image, by using the words “was sent back” as Principal.

Being a national awardee teacher/Principal, I have helped students from the downtrodden sections of society in the rural areas during my 40 years of service. My tenure as Deputy Director, Primary Education, Kangra, has been blotless and guided by missionary zeal. I only worked for the betterment of the school, staff and students.

Besides, certain other facts and versions contained in the report have been published without proper verification and simply to settle old scores.

S.K. BHATNAGAR, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Baijnath

Our Correspondent replies: I strongly contest Mr S.K. Bhatnagar's contention that the news-item was filed out of any mala fide intention on my part.

The facts with regard to the transfer of more than two dozen JBT teachers in violation of the norms are correct and based on records available with the authorities concerned. The Deputy Director (Primary Education) was not empowered to transfer any teacher within a radius of 25 km without prior approval.

I have also not tried to cast any aspersions on his character or competence as a teacher.

The versions of the present Deputy Director (Primary Education), Mr R.C. Chawla, and the Director, Primary Education, Shimla, Mr Nanta, also corroborate the facts.