M A I L B A G

Commodity prices shoot up

On account of the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, the country today is facing a formidable solution-defying crisis which has made the life of the common man extremely miserable.

On this account, the Congress and its leaders, who are committed to the welfare of the common man, are rightly perturbed. But they should not feel depressed as a similar crisis had been successfully handled by one of their most popular leaders, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai.

During the 1950s the county had to face a serious food problem. The target of self-sufficiency had totally failed and there was a cut in ration by one-third on account of the foodgrain shortage.

Semi-famine conditions prevailed throughout the country. Black marketing and hoarding were responsible for worsening the situation.

Dr M. HASHIM KIDWAI, New Delhi

Soil erosion

The foothills in Sirmaur and the Morni hills in Haryana have been badly affected by soil erosion. The continuous and gradual depletion of fertility and productivity is the result because the productive top soil is washed away by rainwater.

The Khol area of Sirmaur, bordering Haryana, is the worst affected. By forging regional co-operation through integrated watershed management programmes, kandi projects, bio-engineering erosion control techniques and small check dams at various sites, soil loss and depletion can be decreased.

L. K. MANUJA, Nahan

Polythene bags

Despite a ban on the polythene bags, people in general and shopkeepers in particular still use them. These bags block pipes, harm the soil and are dangerous for animals because sometimes animals swallow them. The government should take steps to implement the ban. Whosoever uses these bags should be strictly punished.

VIDUSHI JOLLY, Solan

Renewal of licence

I went to the Suvidha Centre at Patiala the other day to submit my application for the renewal of my driving licence. The official concerned refused to accept it and asked me to go direct to the DTO office. Then what is the use of having a Suvidha Centre?

In the DTO office a person, who posed himself as an official of the department, accepted my application and asked me to come next week. When I went to the office as required I was told that the person who had received my application was a private agent. I had to spend many a sleepless night before I could get back the licence duly renewed. This is how the DTO office works.

RANJEET, Patiala

PCS and PJS

The designations like Chief Engineer, SDO, SDM, draftsman and LDC are the same all over the country and are not identified with any state. Similarly, the provincial civil services, whether in Tamil Naidu, Maharashtra or any state, have identical functions.

Why shouldn’t they be designated as PCS and PJS i.e. provincial civil services and provincial judicial services? Moreover, PCS officers are promoted to the IAS cadre after a certain number of years as PCS officers. In my opinion this is more rational.

H.S. BADHAN, Dasuya