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Curb Naxalism with effective strategy

K Padmanabhaiah’s article “Countering Naxalism” (Oct 3) provided a comprehensive history of evolution of Naxalism that has attained a pan-India footprint. Naxalism has exposed the vulnerability of the Indian state necessitating its acceptance as the gravest internal security threat. The article has raised several relevant questions that need to be answered before devising any strategy to combat Naxalism.

The government is focusing more on new policing initiatives rather than energising democratic processes. Corruption, inefficiency, biased law and order machinery is pushing more and more tribals and the poor people into the Naxalite fold.

Any strategy aimed at curbing Naxalism should be comprehensive and multi-pronged. It should focus on development and provide employment opportunities. Efforts have to be made to make more and more people repose faith in democratic processes. This is the only way to desist them from Naxalite philosophy.

Dr VITULL K GUPTA, Bathinda

Manna Dey: A living legend There is little doubt that playback singer Manna Dey (editorial, “Pursuit of perfection”, Oct 2) deserves the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award. Indeed, he is a perfectionist to the core and whenever his flawless voice touched a song it became a classic. Indian music lovers are overwhelmed with joy on hearing the news about his honour. The 90-year-old singer, with over 3,500 songs to his credit in a six-decade-long career, will receive the Swarna Kamal, a Rs 10 lakh cash prize and a shawl from the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, at the National film awards function on October 21. Dey who started his playback singing career with the film Tamanna in 1943, dominated the Hindi music industry from the 1950s to the 1970s with his distinctive voice. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the best-known films to which he lent his voice include Awaara, Do Bigha Zamin, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, Zanjeer, Padosan and Sholay. He has belted many evergreen songs. Though he has asserted, “the old must give way to the new” his songs are eternal. DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh

Cryogenic engine

The news of development of a cryogenic engine indigenously by the ISRO scientists (news report, “Indigenous cryogenic engine ready for take-off” by Shubhadeep Choudhury, Oct 3) is indeed a great achievement of which every Indian is proud. This should also boost the morale of our defence forces that have to remain vigilant constantly in hostile environments.

Such landmark achievements do send right signals to those who think that military might is the only solution to all international problems. The cryogenic engine is equally useful in space research.

L R SHARMA, Sundernagar

Misplaced optimism

While in Pittsburgh, to attend the G-20 summit, our Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said there is no economic crisis in India. Such optimism could well be a case of gross overestimation of the Indian economy. During this year, India’s growth plummeted from over 8 per cent to 5.5.per cent. India’s exports fell from a 10.4 per cent growth in September 2008 to minus 33.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.

Nearly 12 lakh jobs have already been lost in the export-oriented sectors. It is estimated that over 30 lakh jobs will be lost in the organised sector alone by the end of 2009. In the unorganised sector the job loss is bound to be much higher.

Besides, starvation deaths and farmers’ suicides continue to haunt the country. The situation can be reversed only if concerted efforts are made to build public infrastructure, create jobs and increase the purchasing power of the people.

S K KHOSLA, Chandigarh