M A I L B A G

Improving Indo-Pak relations

APROPOS of Pakistan’s intention to drop the 1948 UN resolutions pertaining to Kashmir (Dec 19), Pakistan’s readiness to drop its stubbornly defended demand for the implementation of these resolutions is indeed a welcome change in Gen. Musharraf’s intransigent stance on Kashmir. From being a staunch protagonist of the so-called “Kashmir for Kashmiris” unrealistic movement, he has now taken a U-turn and prepared to meet India half way in a bid for peace.

Bedevilled by the scourge of militancy at home and having escaped attempts on his life, it seems the General has now realised that if the political dialogue does not come about, it is the moderates in Pakistan who would lose to the extremists. Whether or not he is now prepared to acknowledge “crossborder terrorism” as the handiwork of the hardcore militants, aided by the ISI and the Pakistani military, is inconsequential. Enduring peace would be possible only if the unwarranted confrontation between the two neighbours is put to an end.

Brig h.s. chandel (retd), Una

II

Developments in Indo-Pak relations in past few weeks are welcome. People on both sides of the border will surely welcome them. The leadership on both sides has shown positive signs to restore normalcy. An open border and a single currency would go a long way in strengthening the bilateral relations.

prof p.k. gupta, Bathinda

Jobs for millions

This has reference to Mr H.K. Dua’s article “Despair of the jobless”. We have neither developed an economic system suited to our specific needs, nor have we adopted any definite educational pattern to instill self-confidence in our youth. While our economy addresses different vote bank pockets and devotes itself more to subsidies, our education produces literates and ill-trained professionals suited more to take up clerical and supervisory jobs than to engage themselves in productive and creative endeavours.

This lack of skill and scarcity of jobs leads to politicisation of the system where the allurements of reservation on the basis of castes have created mutual animosity and hostility as recently experienced in Bihar, Assam and Mumbai over railway recruitments.

ved guliani, Hisar

II

Mr H.K. Dua’s article “Despair of the jobless” (Dec 19) was thought-provoking. It’s only jobs which bring in daal-roti for the common man. In Narindra Kumar v State of Haryana, JT (1994) 2 SC 94, the Supreme Court held that the right to livelihood is an integral facet of the right ot life guaranteed by the Constitution (Article 21) as a fundamental right. Article 41 even promises “public assistance in cases of unemployment”.

In prosperous Punjab, leave alone the poverty-hit states of India, there is an army of 30 lakh unemployed youths. I agree with Mr Dua’s views that “dim prospects staring the jobless and their pent-up anger can burst into violence and play havoc with social and political stability in the country.”

What is the way out? More and more vocational training centres should be opened and the youths goaded to start small-scale industries. NGOs should convince them that they should not look to white-collar jobs. Self-employment is the best employment. Of course, the government may disburse loans liberally to jobless youth for starting industries.

s.s. jain, Chandigarh

III

The growing turmoil in various states is directly related to the general unrest among the jobless. They, of course, fall an easy prey to the powerful mafias who exploit the situation to their advantage. No doubt, bleak prospects staring the jobless and their pent-up anger are liable to burst into violence and play havoc with the political and social stability, jeopardising the country’s’ cherished democratic set-up.

For the powers that be, the writing on the wall seems bold and unmistakably clear: create jobs or be prepared to face the consequences. Let us hope, even against hope, that the slumbering gods would heed Mr H.K. Dua’s timely wake-up call and re-orient their policies and programmes accordingly.

tara chand, Ambota (Una)

IV

Politicians do not seem to have time to solve the unemployment problem. They only offer the moon to the people without understanding the ground realities. The problem becomes more acute when the available job opportunities are being curtailed. In the name of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, even profit-making public sector undertakings are being privatised. The policy should be such that even sick units be revived. If private sector can take over sick units and revive them, why cannot the Centre and the states do so?

The need of the hour is a new work culture, professionalism and modern management skills. Governments should create more and more job opportunities. the politicians should look beyond raising their own salaries, allowances and perquisites.

gurdershan singh, Chandigarh

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