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

A village needs water tank

The residents of Sansarpur village have been facing great inconvenience due to inadequate supply of potable water for domestic use. Despite the fact that this large village is thickly populated, there is no overhead water tank. Presently, the water is being supplied to this village from the overhead water tank located at Dheena village, which is at a distance of more than one km from here.

The distance between the location of the water tank at Dheena village and Sansarpur is mainly responsible for inadequate water supply to this village, as water takes a long time to reach this village, and by the time it reaches here, it loses its pressure. This is the reason Sansarpur residents do not get an adequate supply of water, and have to face a lot of hardships.

Hence, an overhead water tank is urgently required in this village in order to mitigate the villagers’ perennial water-related problems. Though several requests were made to the authorities concerned in this regard, they failed to yield any positive results. We are, therefore, left with no other option but to seek the attention of the media to highlight our genuine grievances.

SANTOKH SINGH, Sansarpur village, Jalandhar

Balanced gaming

This refers to the report,  “Too much gaming makes kids obese, violent: Survey” (July 19). Today, video games are not only gaining attention of children, but   adults are also developing an inclination towards them.  Video games of today use new technology to make them user friendly. This has resulted in children as well as adults getting addicted to these games.

So children no longer like to indulge in other sports like badminton, cricket etc.  This has led to various health problems. However, video games may serve as a means of mental exercise. But excess of anything is bad. So, we should maintain a balance so that we can derive maximum benefit out of the gifts of science and technology.

INDU KOTRA, Panjab University, Chandigarh   

Remove corruption

The editorial, “The drive for Lokpal” (July 19), indicates that the intentions of the government are unclear, and there is a lack of will to enact a strong Lokpal Bill to eliminate corruption. Parliamentarians are advocating that Parliament is supreme and civil society cannot encroach upon its powers. Members of Parliament and state legislatures do not understand that people, who have elected them as their representatives, are now losing faith in them.

When disgruntled citizens approached the Supreme Court to bring back black money stashed away in foreign banks, the court ordered to constitute an SIT to monitor the black money case. But this has been termed as judicial over-activism. If the elected representatives fail to address people’s grievances, and instead, involve themselves in corrupt deeds, people start losing faith in them. Therefore, civil society’s plea for eliminating corruption from public life must be heard.

KARNAIL SINGH SEKHON, Patiala

Strengthen security

This refers to the editorial, “Threat to dams ”, (July 21). The Central and state governments must do everything possible for installation of sophisticated electronic equipment like explosive detectors, sensors and underwater cameras, and for filling up the huge gap in the required strength of security personnel guarding the facility. It is surprising that just 150 persons are doing the job where 600 are required. Your suggestion that the dam’s security be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force is important.

The Punjab and the Himachal Pradesh governments should also immediately fill up the existing 450 vacant positions of security guards either through deputations or transfers from other security forces till the time regular inductions can be made. This should be done at the earliest.

TEJINDER SINGH BEDI, Faridabad

Decisive action

Your excellent editorial, “Blasts again in Mumbai” (July 15), would surely create a sense of confidence among the people if only what the Prime Minister had stated in Mumbai after meeting the injured persons in the blasts, was converted into action against the enemies of the nation. But the past records of our political leadership have shown what they say on one occasion, they tend to forget later.

The brain behind the attack on our seat of democracy, Parliament, is still in jail. His hanging is being delayed. This has given a signal to the terrorists that India is a soft State. Pakistan should be firmly told to dismantle all terrorist camps. Today, the time has come to take even some unpleasant decisions in the interest of the nation.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari, Hamirpur (HP)

Poverty audit

The editorial, “Well-being of the poor: NHRC review may reveal real position” (July 20), indicates that unearthing of another scam may be in the offing. Schemes like MGNREGA, NRHM, ICDS are designed to benefit the poor, but the hidden aim is to divert funds.

The NHRC audit, if conducted, may not move smoothly and will take a lot of time due to hurdles created by vested interests.  These findings may go the way of 2G PAC report. Despite huge funds for children, many children die in India immediately after birth. If the courts or agencies raise questions, they come under severe criticism from left, right and centre for crossing the limits.

SHARDA BHARGAV, Jalandhar

Education System

Students’ fruitful employability after completion of studies and teachers’ lack of good oral communication skills are, no doubt, matters of concern (What teachers need to learn, July 12). In fact, the rot begins with our education system. Right from the initial level, total stress is laid on academic excellence of students based on cramming sans comprehension.

The emphasis throughout the stage of learning is on written ability through routine written exams. Developing the ability to communicate through practice in oral and reading skills is given no consideration in various language curricula at almost all stages of learning.

Teachers have to formally teach and finish the prescribed curriculum for prescribed objective (final exams) in prescribed time without caring for students’ communication skills for future employability. Teachers are helpless in this regard, being at the receiving end .The education system, and not teachers should be blamed for poor ultimate results.

JAI PAL DHIMAN, Ferozepur