Jobs for the young

The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) has opposed the practice of re-employing retired officers on key posts (HCMSA opposes reinduction of retired docs, September 10). Similarly, banks have been appointing their retired officials as “facilitators” in various branches. The Chandigarh administration is also appointing its retired officials as managers for e-Sampark centres.

Being a housewife and mother, I wonder when our children will be offered jobs in these institutions. Even after acquiring good academic degrees they are underemployed. Why should we not give a chance to the youth? Without any prejudice, I want to say that retired officials (from any institution) are at least well-off, and they are also entitled to pension. In this scenario of widespread unemployment, we should give jobs to youngsters and train them in the desired work. I am sure with the passage of time, and experience, they will also do well in their work.

KAMAL WASON, Chandigarh

Indo-Bangla accord

The article, “PM’s visit to Bangladesh” by B.Z. Khasru (September 10), has aptly said that regional leaders often forget that they are Indians first. India and Bangladesh have three main issues between them— the boundary issue, the water issue and the issue of Chakma refugees. All these issues have been discussed numerous times, and now the time has come to resolve them. The The Farakka barrage issue lingered on for years because of indecision and so is the Tin Bigha issue. Now, Manmohan Singh and Sheikh Hasina have decided to enhance mutual trust by signing some fruitful accords. The Indo- Bangla friendship will not only solve some problems of law and order and terrorism, but also enhance India’s prestige as a regional superpower.

 SANDEEPAN VERMA, Panchkula

II

This refers to your editorial, “Delhi-Dhaka Pacts” (September 9).   I wish to add that West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee’s decision not to join Prime Minister’s group of officials to Bangladesh is a step in the right direction.  As the Chief Minister of her state, she is the custodian of her state and must safeguard its (West Bengal’s) interests. It should have been the duty of the Centre to take her into confidence before finalizing the trip to Bangladesh. Her not joining the Prime Minister has not only embarrassed him but also lowered the prestige of India internationally. Had there been some agreement between India and Bangladesh without the participation of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, there might have been some problems at a later stage, because it is the state of West Bengal which is directly affected by this agreement.  As a matter of principle, the Centre should always take into confidence the Chief Minister of a state before finalizing any international agreement, particularly if the agreement pertained to that state’s interests and was likely to affect its people. 

UJAGAR SINGH, Chandigarh

Callous attitude

It is shocking to read that a woman delivers a baby in a tempo(Shunned by docs, woman delivers in tempo, September 10). Such is the insensitivity of our society that hospitals do not consider the plight of a woman in labour pains. Of course, such cases are not rare in this country. Incidents like this one are reported by the media and are later forgotten by one and all. Our civil society must also take up these issues and fight against a system that does not care for its members.

The woman should have been directed to the right place if the Civil Hospital did not have the requisite expertise to deal with complications. How can a pregnant woman be made to move from one hospital to another?

RAJNI VERMA, Jalandhar

Govt grades

The honourable Human Resource Development Minister Mr Kapil Sibal has genuinely tried to reform Indian education. However, there are some problems that need to be addressed, a major one being that of schools seeking affiliation with the CBSE/CISCE.

I believe the affiliated schools, which already have the infrastructure and are well-established, have been allowed three years to give their teachers government grades, while schools seeking affiliation that actually need more time are being told by the affiliating bodies to give government grades before they get affiliation. This is likely to discourage people who have a dream but less money — a dream to provide good education to children.

I appreciate the idea of giving government grades to teachers, but the schools seeking affiliation are already much burdened, trying to fulfil the numerous requirements of infrastructure and other formalities.

In my opinion, schools within municipal limits seeking affiliation need to be given a minimum of five years to give government grades to their staff. To safeguard teachers’ interests and to ensure they are not exploited, it can be made mandatory for such schools to give 1.5 times the per capita income of the country as the minimum salary to a teacher. This, I believe, would be very reasonable keeping in view the fact that the Punjab government offers new teachers on contract a fixed amount of Rs 6,500. The rural schools could be instructed to give the equivalent of 1.25 times the per capita income of the country as the minimum salary, which could increase to 1.5 times after affiliation.

I most humbly request the honourable Human Resource Minister to kindly look into the matter and resolve this problem at the earliest.