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

Dalits must be treated as equals

The editorial “Death in Hisar” (April 23) was timely. Whatever has happened in Mirchpur village of Hisar district is shameful, shocking and barbaric. In a medieval fashion, Dalits were targeted and their houses set on fire. Unfortunately, even today Dalits are not treated as equals. Caste-based atrocities in Haryana are in a sharp contrast to its rapid pace of modernisation and urbanisation.

It is a fact that the increasing empowerment of Dalits has not been liked and approved of by the dominant castes in the villages. In the recent years, attacks on Dalits have increased manifold. Incidents of such nature have already happened at several places in the state.

Dalits in the rural areas and small towns rightly feel that all those who aided and abetted the brutal assault on Dalits of Mirchpur ought to be booked and given exemplary punishment. How long will Dalits put up with humiliation and injustice?

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

Limited tenure

Those who are elected to posts of president, secretary and treasurer of the nation’s sports organisations think that they are there for life (article, “In sports, old is not gold” by Prabhjot Singh, May 5). They act as if the organisations are their personal fiefdoms.

This attitude needs to be done away with. They stick to these posts by manipulating the members.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOC) and National Sports Federations (NSFs) are prestigious sports organisations of India. Those at the helm of these bodies should definitely have a limited tenure. Emphasis should be laid on improving sports in every field. Coaching, physical standards, living conditions, required infrastructure and selection of players are areas that need attention.

The major crux is finance that has to be made available for the proper functioning of these organisations. Except for the cash-rich cricket organisations, other sports departments have to depend on the government at the Centre and in the states for finance.

The government must take greater interest and appoint able sports persons to head the IOC and the NSF. Sports Minister MS Gill should be congratulated for raising the issue that has turned into a national debate.

RK KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Improve education

The editorial “Ill-equipped schools: Haryana has much to do on education” (May 3) was apt. It is a sorry state of affairs that the topper of a school cannot read a sentence in English. What kind of education is being imparted to them?

The government must appoint teachers district-wise according to the strength of the students in the respective district. District-wise recruitment will improve the strength of the schools as the teachers belong to the district concerned. Recruitment of teachers should be on the basis of merit.

Let us hope that the Education Minister of Haryana will take bold steps to improve the quality of education not only in government schools but also in other schools in the state. The government must check the mushrooming of various public schools, which do not have facilities for extra co-curricular activities as well.

Dr HARINDER SINGH KANG, Yamunanagar

Stop noise pollution

To B N Goswamy’s letter “Noise pollution”(May 5) I would like to add that almost every city and town suffers from the menace of noise pollution. In fact, today even the villages are not free from it. Kasauli is a small hill station where many come from outside for a peaceful break. Instead they have to put up with deafening noise emanating from the loud speakers.

The problem is further compounded by the blaring horns of government and private buses. No one seems to care for the sick and old people. Nor does anyone spare a thought for the children who need to study in a quiet atmosphere. It is essential that administration intervenes and takes effective steps.

Lt-Col JIWAN SHAROTRI (retd), Kasauli

Why suicides?
To Nonika Singh’s article “Quitting life early: Suicides are preventable tragedies” (April 29), I would like to add that man thinks of committing suicide only at a time when he is compelled by extreme circumstances. The writer has taken up the issue of suicides committed by our youth, especially given an example of an unemployed youth who had committed suicide in SAS Nagar.
To find out the reasons and preventions of these untimely tragedies, we have to go into the depth of the problem and understand the reasons behind suicides among youth, farmers, and commoners.
We live in a society where there is a big gap between haves and have-nots. Chronic hunger, malnutrition, poverty and unemployment, as also occasional burst of emotions are some of the basic reasons that compel people to commit suicides.
The benefits of development have not percolated down to the underprivileged. The expectations of the people are high and they want instant solutions to their problems, which are not available in the existing system. We have to change the system to arrest the widening gap between the ‘shining and ‘suffering’ India so as to prevent suicides.
S K KHOSLA,Chandigarh

Anecdotal style

Roopinder Singh’s middle “Beating the Americans” (April 29) has aptly juxtaposed the respective inter-generational perceptions prevalent in the US on the one hand and in India on the other, thereby articulating the irony implied in the headline of the middle.

Through the anecdotal style of its projection, it does convey the vital message, a mode I had always endeavoured to emulate all through my long innings as a teacher.

MALWINDERJIT SINGH WARAICH, Saketri, Panchkula