M A I L B A G

Free education scheme for girls laudable

The continuing practice of female foeticide in Punjab is shocking because in spite of being the best state economically, Punjab has been sliding down in growth. In this context, the Centre has taken a laudable step in the form of “education bonanza” announced for the only girl child of each family.

Free education along with a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 (to be increased to Rs 2000 for college/university education) will motivate potential parents to restrict their families. It will serve two purposes — prevent additions to national numbers as well as askew the gender ratio.

This scheme should be given wide publicity, particularly among the youth. In fact, the whole campaign against female foeticide/ infanticide, dowry, superstition should target young people to get the desired results. India belongs as much to girls as to boys.

Prof MOHAN SINGH, Amritsar

II

On the face of it, the scheme looks quite attractive to the parents bearing one or two girls, but it will be incomplete unless it is implemented in professional colleges too and started from the pre-primary level. Many state governments are already providing free education to girl students in non-professional schools and colleges.

Moreover, education is costlier up to the senior school level. The scheme should be implemented in letter and spirit irrespective of professional and non-professional education and the level of the class. Unless a blatant preferential status is given to the girl child, I am afraid, female foeticide will continue.

RUCHI SHARMA, Jagadhri

III

The Centre has taken a great step by announcing education bonanza for the girl child. This will definitely help promote the education of poor girls. Educating a girl mean educating two families. It will restore the dignity of women in society. The scheme will also stop further fall of sex ratio.

KAMOD, Bhiwani

IV

It is a welcome step. It will boost the literacy rate, especially for girls. At present more than 60 per cent women are illiterate. It is said that if a son becomes literate, only one person becomes literate. However, if a girl becomes literate, then the whole family becomes literate. So is the importance of the education of a  girl child.

The states should follow the Centre because sometimes very good schemes become inoperative due to lack of effective coordination. More schools for girls are also a right step. The scheme should be given due publicity to attract the parents for the education of girl students.

Dr P.P. SINGHAL, Chural Kalan (Sangrur)

V

The Centre’s new policy of free education to girl child is welcome. It will benefit economically weaker sections most. If the scheme is implemented properly, parents will be able to educate their girl child well which in turn will make her independent and self-reliant. Besides, the scheme will remove gender discrimination.

More important, the scheme will give a boost to the one-child norm. This is very essential for our country which is still a developing country. The one-child norm will help reduce the population, which is the main cause of poverty.

GURINDER KAUR, Chandigarh

VI

It must be extremely painful for the Prime Minister to know that in his home state Punjab, the inhuman practice of female foeticide is most rampant. Punjab, the land of Gurus and sages now has a dubious distinction of “kundi-maar”. The daughter is treated very badly here.

I endorse the view that all family members and relatives who give second-grade treatment to a girl and demand dowry are encouraging foeticide. Education for the girl is a must but education for the entire society is even more necessary. Men and women should be taught to revise their outmoded views on women’s role in nation building.

Prof VIJAY SHEEL JAIN, Ludhiana

VII

The new scheme for the girl child should be examined in the context of the female foeticide in Punjab. Generally, the birth of a son is regarded as a joyous event and that of a girl a mark of misfortune. This is because most people cannot bear the education and marriage expenses of their daughters and meet the demands of greedy dowry-seekers.

All well-wishers of the fair sex should launch a vigorous campaign against female foeticide. Religious leaders and social workers should spread awareness against this heinous crime and custom of dowry. Those involved in these despicable acts should be socially ostracised. While solemnising marriage, the priest should call upon the bridegroom to swear by the holy book of his faith that he would neither commit female foeticide nor torture his spouse for bringing dowry.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

Turning adversity into humour Amar Chandel’s write up “A happy lot” (Oct 8) was interesting. It’s a good example of how a writer can turn adversity into humour. It is also a glimpse of true Indian life in one way or the other. This reminds me a joke about the trains running late in India. After waiting for some hours for a train, one passenger went to the Station Superintendent and asked him, “What is the use of a Time Table, if you can’t run the trains on time?” Pat came the reply, “The Time Table will help you know how late the train is running”. SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

LPG for autos

The prices of auto fuel are sky rocketing. The people are resorting to LPG gas. The going rate of conversion of LPG gaskit is around Rs 5,000 and they get going merrily without bothering about the law.

The law should keep pace with the situation as it obtains today; it should be suitably amended so that people can use this alternate fuel legally and do not become violators of the law.

K.L. ARORA, Chandigarh