M A I L B A G

Bihar needs a drastic remedy

Apropos of H.K. Dua’s article “Kislay Kaushik’s cry: Who will pull Bihar out of the mess?” (Feb 2), whatever is happening in Bihar is nothing short of terrorism. Given a choice no sane person would like to live in that state. If the situation does not improve, it may lead to a mass exodus of people and shifting of the industries.

This does not include the migratory labour from Bihar, which obviously has little or no choice when it comes to shifting permanently. Once the exodus of well-to-do class is complete, the league-in-nexus would turn to the common people, currently being treated as fodder for vote and power, further escalating the migration.

Obviously, those responsible for the present state of affairs will have to pull the state out of the mess — the politicians, the bureaucrats, and the businessmen. As of now, as hinted in the article, none of these sections would like to do anything, as they are a part and source of problem and not the solution. Lest the disease spreads to other states, something needs to be done urgently. The state needs a drastic remedy.

The people of Bihar may be thinking that the Centre would do something. However, given the present political configuration, an early solution does not seem to be in sight. The Centre consults Bihar’s politicians and bureaucrats who are part of the problem.

VINOD TIWARI, Shimla

II

Mr Dua has pinpointed the problem by maintaining that “the people have stopped being sensitive to criminalisation in Bihar.” One should realise that by remaining insensitive to the fast rising criminal acts in seemingly distant Bihar, one would not remain unaffected from such a situation for long.

If Mahmud Ghaznavi and Mohammad Ghori could come from abroad after crossing a difficult terrain those days, Bihar is not too far now. In fact, several alleged criminals from there have already made inroads to Delhi, the seat of the Union Government!

BALVINDER, Chandigarh

III

With or without Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, Bihar has always been the most lawless state.

Of course, it got much worse since he and then, his wife, Mrs Rabri Devi, took control. Sadly, no one can get rid of this government. This is one reason why India has fared so poorly as a democracy while other democracies in the West and Europe have flourished.

Students do not get their due in other states too. According to reports in The Tribune, 90 per cent of elementary schools in Punjab’s Ropar district lack of rooms and potable water. Students in Kherabad have been sitting in the open, braving the cold weather and drinking contaminated water for the last one year. The Punjab government has not yet reacted to this report.

A few months ago, The Tribune reported that kids were being fed germ-infested food in Haryana schools. No one was arrested. Last year, scores of students were charred to death in a fire in a Tamil Nadu school. India has the largest number of missing children in the world. Besides, there is the problem of child labour. Who will speak for them and get them what they deserve?

SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

IV

One must agree with Mr Dua that in Bihar, the politician-criminal-businessman-bureaucrat nexus is very strong. His observation that the criminals and the corrupt have joined politics in many other states is also correct. But who is responsible for it? Why did the people allow the formation of this nexus?

If poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment and other socio-economic ills are responsible for people’s weakness to stand against the criminals, then again, who is responsible for the prevalence of these ills? Where are the forces that are expected to transform the lot of the people?

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

Schools’ plight

Apropos of the two reports on the state of government schools in Punjab, and the World Bank report, Punjab tops the list of absenteeism in schools. It is a matter of shame that even after 57 years of Independence the condition of the schools is deplorable.

Most schools are housed in old and dilapidated buildings. They have no libraries, laboratories and furniture. A number of schools are without teachers and headmasters. Absenteeism and sub-letting of jobs is an open secret in these schools.

The copying menace goes on without any check. The standard of education in rural schools is awfully poor. It is very strange but true that all this goes on under the very nose of the authorities. Instead of making utopian schemes, the government should pay attention to reforms and enforce them strictly.

GURDARSHAN SINGH DUGGAL, Jalandhar

Set up pay panel

Earlier, pay scales of the Central Government employees, universities and college teachers were revised from Jan 1, 1996 as per the recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission. It also recommended the next pay revision after 10 years i.e., from Jan 1, 2006. The Central Government should, therefore, constitute a pay commission. A timeframe should be fixed for submitting the report.

Prof SANJIV KUMAR, DAV College, Hoshiarpur

Worthy of emulation The editorial “Bridal bravery” (Jan 17) aptly describes Sita’s action as exceptionally laudable. This poor and illiterate girl of Patiala deserves accolades for exhibiting uncommon grit of sticking to her righteous stand of sending her mischievous marriage party packing. Apart from demanding dowry, some unscrupulous relatives of the groom tried to take liberties with the self-respect of her sister and others. This was too much for the conscientious Sita. She took the irreversible decision of teaching them a lesson by bundling them out empty-handed. Sita’s guts will go a long way in encouraging other girls in discouraging the evil designs of those seeking to infringe their dignity with impunity. In fact, weak, forgiving and submissive attitude of the girls and their parents is largely responsible for the reckless escapades of these wayward bullies. Unless hard lessons are taught to them the way Sita did, the desideratum will remain only a distant dream. Indeed, Sita has proved the logic of the rod that tames every brute. The million-dollar question is: Will the brides-to-be follow suit and emulate her excellent example? Amen! Dr C.S. MAAN, Charatgarh (Una)