The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Improve tax recovery in Punjab

The editorial “Raising money for govt: Punjab needs better tax collection” (Jan 21) was apt. The Punjab government’s move to impose new taxes to improve the economy of the state is not pragmatic enough. It comes at a time when productivity is low and the number of jobless is increasing. Punjab is slipping because the taxpayer’s money is spent according to the whims and fancies of the ruling politicians and not as per people’s needs.

Instead of burdening the taxpayer with new taxes, the government needs to improve tax recovery by plugging loop-holes in tax collection and must take stringent action against tax evaders and recover arrears of crores of rupees pending recovery.

AJIT SINGH, Windsor, Canada

Welcome decision

The editorial “Demat of degrees” (Jan 14) was convincing. I support the argument that the problem of fake degrees and fake institutions has become quite serious and “gaping holes” in our education system must be plugged. The decision of the Central Government to make available online in the electronic format all educational degrees and certificates from school to university level is appreciable.

At present, the line between those who earn their degrees and those who literally purchase them has become blurred. These days, education seems to have become a commodity.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

The editorial has analytically highlighted the benefits of ‘dematting’. The term demat is a short expression of dematerialisation. It means that all the academic degrees and certificates will be in electronic format and not in physical form. Dematting of degrees is a path-breaking decision.

This process will be a boon for the students and the institutions as well. Students will be spared the tedious task of attestation and institutions won’t have to preserve physical degrees.

Indeed, dematting operation, if implemented effectively in the entire country, will not only check mushrooming of unrecognised institutions but also the menace of fake degrees.

HARBANS SINGH, Ambala Cantt

Racial attacks

One is pained to learn about the fatal racial attacks on Indian students in Australia. The world community today has come closer due to progress in science and technology. It is obvious that knowledge has to be shared by all countries through universities, research organisations and colleges. In this context, the racial violence in Australia is mindless and sullies the image of that country and the government.

On the other hand India should also improve its own universities to bring them on a par with the best in the world.

SHAILJA SHARMA, Mandi

Rotary’s polio drive

The editorial “Eradicating polio” (Jan 12) was well written and I am particularly happy that the needed focus has been given to this most important health challenge that our country has undertaken.

What surprises me is that whereas the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been referred to in the editorial, there is no reference whatsoever to Rotary International which was the initiator of this world-wide programme. Rotary thought of it in 1979 when 6.5 million children were successfully immunised in the Philippines. Thereafter it took up the commitment to immunise the children of the world and in its campaign involved WHO and UNICEF in 1985. Then came the World Health Assembly in 1988 which made all the governments of the world take up the programme to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.

Rotary has been the initiator and one of the major global partners with national governments in this crusade having spent more than $700 million from its own fund and mobilising through its advocacy many hundred millions more. In addition, the army of Rotarians has been working ceaselessly for the programme. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation came on board a few years back and what they are doing is also greatly appreciated. They too gave the money to Rotary to spend on the programme having the confidence that Rotary would be able to use the funds most effectively.

Rotary’s priority number one programme is the eradication of polio. It does not matter who gets the credit as long as the job is done.That’s why Rotary has been working ceaselessly with the UN agencies and national governments for making India polio-free and ultimately achieving a polio-free world.

R K SABOO, Chandigarh