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A Nobel for words and words
The editorial “Nobel for Obama”
(Oct 12) has rightly opined that the award is actually for President Obama’s words rather than his deeds. The world is so accustomed to US presidents waging wars that the first incumbent to promise diplomacy gets to win the Nobel Peace Prize, regardless of what he does. The decision to give the coveted peace prize to Mr Obama is likely to leave the world at large puzzled, bemused and more than a little sore. In fact, he is yet to prove anything. His reputation has preceded his actions. Many in India would like to see whether the prize would now nudge him to get more proactive on nuclear non-proliferation. It is true that, rather than always capping a long career of peacemaking efforts the committee often wields the peace prize as a hammer to shape events. More often than not, the prize is awarded to encourage winners to see the effort through, sometimes at crucial moments. Now that the award has been announced, one can only hope that it will inspire the US President to spread peace and goodwill across the world. If that happens, the award, though prematurely given, would have served some purpose. SUMAN
KUKAL,
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Fruits for health The editorial “Still in the process: Fruits are good for nation’s health” (Oct 8) was timely and focussed. Faulty planning and lopsided priorities are responsible for the dismal performance of the food processing industry. The government encouraged farmers to grow fruits and vegetables and gave a boost to small food processing units by way of soft loans and subsidies. But these units failed to survive due to competition from MNCs. Since this issue has now caught the imagination of the Prime Minister, it is expected that a national level comprehensive marketing policy of processed food will be formulated ensuring protection to this sector. R M RAMAUL, Paonta Sahib Unjustified salaries I fully support the views expressed by Mr Salman Khurshid, Corporate Affairs Minister (news report, “No ‘vulgar’ salaries, Khurshid tells India Inc”, Oct 5) regarding vulgar salaries drawn by the CEOs of the private sector corporations. It is time the government regulated their salaries and other perks. How can one justify a salary of Rs 40-50 crores per annum besides other perks like private planes, fleet of luxury cars and palatial houses? R S GREWAL, Amaravila II Vulgar is a relative term. While Mr Kurshid finds honcho’s salaries “vulgar”, workers in the unorganised sector consider salaries and perks of high rank government officers and politicians abnormally high. The government will do well to first set its house in order. BHARTENDU SOOD, Chandigarh Celebrating Diwali Diwali is a festival of lights. However, these days a lot of money is wasted on crackers which cause environmental pollution. This year there is another reason for us to celebrate Diwali without crackers. Money thus saved can be donated to hapless flood victims. Let us spare a thought for their rehabilitation and celebrate the festival in a novel way by presenting sweets to those who cannot afford to buy them. On this Diwali, let us also take a pledge to save our environment. SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozpore
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