The rot in IAS

Amar Chandel's article on the degradation of the Indian Administrative Service hits the bull's eye. Our corrupt crop of politicians has colluded with the corrupt elements in the administarative and police services, and everybody wants his pound of flesh.

Punjab had the privilege of having iconic ICS officers like Fletcher, Tarlok Singh, Nawab Singh and M.S. Randhawa, but now the calibre of our administrative pillars, the so-called "steel frame", has taken a nosedive. We need to produce a generation of honest and scrupulous politicians for identifying honest bureaucrats and for rewarding them for their upright functioning. In the present scenario, it appears to be a difficult proposition.

HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey, USA

Women empowerment

It is an oft-proclaimed affirmation that women empowerment is the basic ingredient of national development in various manifestations. Mr Jagannath Pahadia, in this context, has asked to "ensure education to every girl child" as reported on December 7. But making it certain is not that easy.

I know of a few slum girls who earn more than Rs 1000 a month each and at the same time possess a great inclination for being educated. The economic condition renders them incapacitated to go in for formal schooling. Instead they attend a non-formal education centre run by a voluntary body. This means that education is directly linked to the economic condition of a family.

The incentives provided by the government are also not able to attract these girls to formal schools. This infirmity in the social set-up has to be addressed adequately and sincerely on a person-to-person basis at the local level. This work can be accomplished only with a close relationship between the government and the community.

Dr S. KUMAR, Panchkula

A corrupt system

Laws in India are meant only to be made and kept in shelves (an article by P.P. Rao, Dec 6). If implemented, this is done with inordinate delays and with all sorts of discrimination.

In our country "self-interests" come first and the interests of the nation last. That is why the question of systemic reforms does not arise at all. The Supreme Court last year rightly said, "Even God will not be able to save this country. In India, even if God comes down, he cannot change our country. Our country's character has gone. We are helpless."

Our entire system, from top to bottom, is so corrupt that we are getting trapped in it day by day. Every person is worried about how to amass more and more wealth by hook or by crook even being fully aware that at last they will depart from this world with their hands empty.

CHANDERLOK NAINTA, Vaishali, Ghaziabad

Justice Dinakaran

The legal fraternity has levelled serious allegations against Justice PD Dinakaran. The fact that the Supreme Court collegium has put his elevation on hold and not asked him to resign, is an issue that calls for attention (editorial, "Resignation or impeachment: Justice Dinakaran faces chorus for action", Dec 4). For at stake is the prestige of the apex court and the integrity of the judiciary. The apex court must not be saddled with persons of doubtful integrity.

Though the impeachment process is quite cumbersome, Parliament would be failing in its constitutional obligations if it doesn't take cognisance of the reports of land grabbing by Justice Dinakaran and lets him continue to hold on to his present position or allows the Supreme Court to go ahead with his elevation.

LAJPAT RAI GARG, Panchkula