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The article was thought-provoking and touching. It is shocking to note that the war-disabled persons of the Army lead a miserable life as they are not treated on par with the serving or retired Army personnel. They do not get the benefits that they really deserve. It is appalling that after being wounded or disabled in wars or in counter-insurgency operations these disabled servicemen are left to fend for themselves.

Though the writer welcomes the Army Chief’s statement that the Indian Army will celebrate year 2011 as the “year of the disabled soldiers” to honour soldiers who suffered injuries or were disabled in operations, he rightly says that the government does nothing for their rehabilitation. The writer puts the number of such disabled servicemen at some 25,000, yet he says that “no one really knows how many war-disabled personnel exist, how many are still serving, how many have been boarded out and how many are still alive.”

The Army’s yearly budget of Rs 1 crore fixed for the welfare of 25,000 war-disabled personnel, which comes out to just Rs 400 per head, is certainly a cruel joke. The government should give a serious thought to this discrepancy and do all that needs to be done for the welfare of disabled soldiers and their families.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Doctors’ training

Ravi Gupta’s article “Doctor’s training needs to be more wholesome” (Feb 17) reflects the sensitive feelings of medical practitioners towards their patients, coupled with valuable suggestions of introducing in the medical curriculum optional courses of literature and humanities.

The writer has rightly suggested the role of art of communication skill, yoga, cognitive behaviour therapy, literature and also macro aspects of human behaviour especially of elders and terminally ill. Corporate houses in India have introduced various stress management techniques for their executives. There is a need to introduce such measures for our medical practitioners as well. 

Dr V K ANAND, Chandigarh

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The suggestions made by the writer need to be incorporated by the medical fraternity. It is also the responsibility of our bureaucrats to ensure that doctors don’t face any legal hassles in their profession.

VIVEK KUMAR, Chandigarh

Care for elderly

P C Sharma’s middle “Song of old age” (Feb 18) has brought out the problems being faced by senior citizens. It is for society to devise means for taking care of the elderly. Diet and exercise play an important role in healthy living. However, efforts must be made to make them happy as well.

The elderly should not be neglected. Efforts must be made to utilise their vast experience in a gainful manner for the benefit of people. All possible help should be extended so that the last part of their journey is completed comfortably and painlessly.

S.C. VAID, Greater Noida

Disappointed by PM

The Prime Minister apparently fought a losing battle (editorial, “Pushed hard by scams; PM fights a tough battle”, Feb 17). He blamed everyone – the UPA coalition, the Opposition, the judiciary, the media – but himself. He took pains to exonerate himself of all charges, but do the people also exonerate him? I think people feel let down by him.

Wg-Cdr. CL SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

Leadership today

To the news report (Feb 16) I would like to add that undoubtedly, the UPA government has faced a barrage of criticism over scores of scams including the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.

In the past, political leaders used to give top priority to the nation irrespective of their personal grudges or their party stand. The welfare of the nation was their top priority but not any more.

HARI CHAND SHANKER, Ambala Cantt

Discourage sycophancy

The editorial “Maya memsaheb: Sycophancy is an odious ‘democratic’ practice” (Feb 10), highlighted the growing bane of sycophancy. This bane seems to have infected almost every political party and must be discouraged. .