M A I L B A G

Colleges must in neglected districts

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has recently announced opening of a government college in Panipat. In the past, new educational institutions in Rohtak, Sonepat and Panipat districts had been announced. However, Mahendragarh and Rewari including Mewat have been ignored.

For example, Rewari has no government college. Nor there are state-run technical educational institutions in these districts.

Consider the state government’s village development initiatives. Of about 88 villages set to be developed as ‘Model Villages’ at a cost of Rs 250 crore, no such village has been identified in Mahendragarh district which has been neglected by successive governments.

Even the erstwhile Chautala government, which spent hundreds of crores of rupees out of the Haryana Rural Development Fund Board in Sirsa and other places, spent only a few crores in Mahendragarh. Had there been no Central scheme and Army support to the two districts, the people would have been starving.

The Hooda government should change its discriminatory attitude towards this area, allow sufficient flow of developmental funds and establish educational institutions there.

PURAN SINGH, Chandigarh

Boost savings

I have some suggestions for the Union Budget 2008, keeping in view both the common man’s expectations and the government’s limitations. The Finance Minister should raise the IT limit to Rs 2 lakh for general category, Rs 2.5 lakh for women and Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens. Reduce the tax rate to 10 per cent for income from Rs 2 to 3 lakh, 20 per cent for income from Rs 3 to 5 lakh and 25 per cent for income above Rs 5 lakh. Raise the deduction limit under 80C to Rs 2 lakh. Bring 5-year post office or bank deposits under 80C.

Mr Chidambaram should raise the ceiling for deposit in PPF to Rs 2 lakh and in post office Monthly Income Scheme to Rs 10 lakh. Allow 1 per cent extra interest to senior citizens in all PO/Banks schemes. These suggestions, if implemented, will boost public savings and cause no loss in tax collection.

Wg-Cdr C. L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

II

As the Union Budget is fast approaching, I appeal to the Union Finance Minister to consider my suggestion. As in the Railways and banks, a person who has completed 60 years of age in the financial year should be given the benefit of senior citizen for purposes of Income-tax. Since the senior citizens have very little sources of income to meet their both ends meet, tax-free limit of income for them should be raised as for persons of 65 years and above as at present.

A simple tax return form should be evolved for them that can be filled in without taking the help of a lawyer or chartered accountant to save fee.

PREM NATH GUPTA, Sangrur

Dalit Muslims deserve quota The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explain whether there is any caste system among Muslims (Jan 26). Though the Quran prohibits the practice of any form of caste system, Indian Muslims follow some sort of stratification. This runs along socio-economic and ethno-territorial lines. The Islamic jurists, following the Hanafi doctrine of kufu, legitimised the caste system and categorised Muslims in three broader groups, namely, Ashraf, Ajlaf and Arzal. Besides, the Sachar Committee Report reveals that of every 100 workers, about 11 are Hindu OBCs, three are Muslim (General) and only one is Muslim OBC (page 209), though the OBC Muslims constitute as much as 75 per cent of the total Muslim population. Thus, the principle of justice and equality demands that the benefit of reservation should be extended to Dalit Muslims. RUBY NAUSHAD, New Delhi

Icon of youth

I read the piece, “Towering genius: Swami Vivekananda”. He shaped the mental make-up of innumerable people. His vision of healthy and powerful youth made him the youth icon.

Rashi Sharma’s article truly reflected the spirit behind those thunderous words of this great sage. We will look forward for such inspirational articles regarding this wonderful genius and his works.

VANDANA BANSAL, Phagwara

Faulty selection

The editorial, “Uncivil exam” (Feb 8) explicitly reflects the malpractices and faulty processes devised by the erstwhile Chautala government to make a civil exam an uncivil one. Public service commissions in states like Haryana and Punjab have attained notoriety for too many corrupt practices. It looks very shocking and disgusting to be cheated by the very system which is expected to uphold fair play and justice.

It is time people reviewed their priorities while exercising their constitutional rights vis-a vis the services and scams by their representatives.

RAVINDER GILL, Abohar

Welcome decision

The Haryana government has rightly made the registration of marriage compulsory irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The funds so collected towards the fee should be deployed on the human resource development activities among youth and women.

The registration fee should be fixed rationally. I feel that 10 per cent of the couple’s monthly income can be fixed as the fee. This, of course, needs to be pooled in a separate fund and kept reserved for ensuring inter-generation equity.

All the states should help check post-marriage disputes by enforcing the compulsory registration of marriages. There is no need of a separate four-tier administrative mechanism as envisaged and the work can be assigned to the panchayati raj institutions in addition to compulsory registration of birth and deaths.

Dr M.M. GOEL, Kurukshetra

Parking problem

The car parking at the Chintpurni shrine is in a mess. The authorities charge Rs 30 a vehicle, but no proper facilities for parking cars. Some visitors park vehicles in the general bus stand. This is also not safe. The police and the parking contractors misbehave with the pilgrims. Conduct a surprise check, you will see most vehicles parked in the market rather than in the parking zone. It is not know how these vehicles are permitted to cross the parking zone. The sick, the physically challenged and senior citizens should be permitted to take their vehicles up to the Bhawan in the normal days. The contact numbers of the shrine’s administrator should be displayed at the site to help pilgrims.

VINOD KUMAR SUD, Hoshiarpur