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

Sports bodies should be run by sportsmen

The inordinately long tenure of the office-bearers of sports bodies may not be the sole reason for the decline in the sports culture in the country but it does create vested interests (editorial, “Sports & politics: Fixing tenures alone is not going to work”, May 4). Instead of promoting sports, the office-bearers start promoting their own interests or those of their kith and kin. Had it not been so, our medal tally in the Olympic and Asian Games would not have been so dismal.

We must, therefore, congratulate the Sports Ministry for taking a wise and bold decision, though belatedly, to fix a term of 12 years for a president of a sports body (with or without break) and a mandatory four-year cooling-off period for a secretary or treasurer seeking re-election, with every office-bearer/member retiring at 70 years.

One is tempted to ask ministers, MPs and other leaders why are they so obsessed with sports. Obviously and surely they want to head and monopolise the sports bodies to enjoy perks and privileges that go with the posts. Like politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen are also jumping on the sports bandwagons for fame and glamour.

HEMA, Langeri, Hoshiarpur

Indians first

The column Ground Zero “Return of the puttar” by Raj Chengappa (May 2) revealed both his nostalgia and urge to see his birthplace. Although he was later brought up in the South, his love for the Punjabi paranthas speaks about the cohesiveness of Indian culture. Indeed, we are all Indians first and everything else latter.

Maj NARINDER SINGH JALLO (retd), SAS Nagar

II

The article showed Mr Chengappa’s sense of belongingness to Punjab and his willingness to interact with the public. I wish, through his articles, he would guide the politicians as well as the bureaucracy and initiate the process of motivation so as to reduce corruption and increase efficiency.

Lt-Col BACHITTAR SINGH (retd), SAS Nagar

III

Indeed, it is the slender thread of life that connects us all and makes us understand the oneness of the universe. Our ancestors and teachers of good life always professed that we should take inspiration from lotus. Just as lotus entrenched in the mud rises above it, we should also rise above hypocrisy and sycophancy.

The article is bound to create an impact on its readers and shall not only empower them to believe in themselves but also make them understand people and the world around them.

P S NARANG, Ludhiana

MCI’s functioning The Medical Council of India was established as an autonomous authority for ensuring high medical education standards and ethics (editorial, “Arrest not enough”, April 24). However, the MCI staff has been under cloud for several years. The nadir has been reached with the arrest of its president, Dr Ketan Desai. There has been deterioration in medical education standards due to ill- equipped and under-staffed institutions. There is a need to completely overhaul the organisation and functioning of the MCI as well as other bodies overseeing other professional institutions. A broad-based and single central body, with persons of impeccable integrity at the helm, needs to be established by the government with adequate safeguards against corruption and nepotism. Additionally, the functioning of the body, including various inspection reports of institutions under its jurisdiction, must be made transparent. Brig H S SANDHU (retd), Panchkula