How about “Hangama Hour” --- a fixed time on a daily or weekly basis for making noise against any Bill or raising objection to any matter by the Opposition? No disruption of Parliament should be allowed except during this “Hangama Hour”. If MPs refuse to behave marshals should be called in to make them leave Parliament. This is a harsh measure but essential in the national interest.

M. Kumar, New Delhi

Ayurveda’s role

After reading the article “Affordable healthcare...” that appeared on November 23 in your newspaper I came to know that cereals, herbs and vegetables increase the heamoglobin level in pregnant women. It proves the potential of ayurveda for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases. Ayurvedic health care should be promoted as part of the national health programmes without bias.

Dr Naresh Dalal (Sr. Vice-President, NIMA, Haryana), Jhajjar

Noise pollution

Rampant misuse of loudspeakers, vehicle horns and bursting of crackers are major sources of nuisance in Chandigarh, touted as the City Beautiful. One fails to understand the indifference of the citizens towards this easily avoidable nuisance. The police does not take notice of gross violations of the prescribed norms and rules. The City Pollution Control Board confines itself to issuing periodical press notes. No one seems to appreciate that the control of this easily avoidable nuisance can improve the quality of life in the city. It is high time for the citizens and the administration to launch a concerted drive to deal with this problem. As a first step, it is recommended that there should be a complete ban on the use of loudspeakers, vehicle horns and crackers of all types within the city limits.

Col. BIS Cheema, Chandigarh

Frightened of ghosts

The middle “Of ghosts and printer’s devil” (November 23) was worth reading and also very entertaining. The writer was accurate in his views about ghosts and also the comparison with the modern peculiar type of ghosts, altogether different from the older ones. Really, these ghosts are very much successful in frightening kids. I would rather say that my mom also used to scare me by mentioning Dracula.

Don’t blame media

This is with reference to the reports about the involvement of ex-chiefs of the Army and the Navy and other senior officers in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The concern expressed by Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi (retd) and certain other retired Army officers with regard to the media’s role is understandable. But how can corruption be justified?

Can these retired generals tell us what all they did for the welfare of Army men when they were in active service and held important positions? How many of them had the guts to call a spade a spade and took a stand for pay and perks disparities, pension and other welfare matters? They must understand the degradation of values and morality in the Services which was not there in the past.

We would have appreciated their concern if they had equally blamed the Army officers involved in the scam. Instead, they preferred to blame the media only. Joining the defence services is a choice of an individual. No one can force anybody to join the defence forces on the prevailing terms and conditions.

Succumbing to temptations and greed and involvement in corruption have to be condemned whether the accused person is associated with the Services or some other institution or organisation. People are aware and the media is proactive. Moreover, there is now the Right to Information Act. Everyone must be aware of these.