M A I L B A G

Pitfalls of centralised planning

Apropos of Paranjoy Guha Thakurta’s article “Foreign experts: Yes or No” (Sept 27), even though all the consultative committees of the Planning Commission have been abolished, the issue in question needs to be put in proper perspective. Even after 50 years of centralised planning, more than 40 per cent of India’s population continues to remain below the poverty line. The per capita caloric food consumption, the per capita power consumption in our country are all among the lowest in the world. A vast section of the population is still deprived of housing, sanitation and education.

Thus, our planning process, despite massive financial outlays, has not delivered. While some built-in handicaps such as India’s federal structure leading to economic indiscipline among states, leakages in the anti-poverty programmes, corruption, red tape and political expediency through freebies and subsidies have been stumbling blocks, the available expertise of our planners has been grossly inadequate to address India’s gigantic problems.

No patriotic Indian would wish that India compromise its sovereign decision-making authority to foreign experts. Nevertheless, I didn’t see any harm if a wide variety of internationally exposed talent was made use of the consultative groups, to review specific issues of the Tenth Plan.

V.B.N. RAM, New Delhi

Recognise domiciles

The State Institute of Education, Chandigarh, is well recognised by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE). It is run by the UT Administration just as the DIETs of Punjab government are controlled by the state government. But those who completed ETT from this institution are not considered for employment by the Punjab government.

Moreover, even though 15 per cent seats are reserved for Punjab domiciles, this rule is followed more in its breach than in practice. Domiciles who have completed ETT from this institution have been denied recruitment on the ground that the course offered by this institute is not recognised by the Punjab government.

I appeal to the Punjab Chief Minister, the DPI (EE) and Project Director, Sarv Shikhya Abhiyan (Punjab) to consider Punjab domiciles who have completed their ETT diploma from this institution in the next recruitment drive.

DALJIT SINGH, Govt Sr. Sec. School, Kiratpur Sahib (Ropar)

In the thick of it all

Apropos of Ajay Banerjee’s article, “Never too late: Post-offices have found new modes of survival” (Oct 1), the writer has overlooked the fact that the postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance fetch huge revenues for the department. It will have to go in for sincere marketing of its products for survival. There is a big challenge for the department from the Internet, telephones, particularly mobile phones. There is also urgent need to improve the quality of services.

The Himachal Pradesh government has agreed without any guarantee to hand over the sale of its Subordinate Selection Board application forms to the Postal department. But the proposal has not been implemented. The Department of Posts is already having an agency to make the application forms of Union Public Service Examinations and Passport forms available. It will earn more revenue, if the SSB applications are also sold in the post offices.

R.S. HAMDARD, Hamirpur

Helping elders

The editorial “Old gold” (Oct 2) deserves careful consideration by the government and society. The special measures suggested in the editorial deserve to be implemented immediately.

The NDA government should not have reduced the interest rates for senior citizens who mostly live on them. For interest, interest on the Monthly Income Scheme of Post Office has been slashed from 13.25 per cent to perfect. Similarly, the interest on fixed deposits of bank has been cut from 13-14 per cent to 6-7 per cent. This has hit senior citizens very badly.

K.K. BHARDWAJ, Patiala