The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

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Give priority to Indian hockey

While it is praiseworthy that The Tribune covers cricket in a very scintillating fashion, it is equally true that other sports are receiving step-motherly treatment. I can understand the extensive coverage you have given to India becoming the Asian champion by beating Pakistan. But your coverage was still not as extensive as was the one concerning India’s lack of success in cricket in England.

When Ajay Maken took over as the Union Sports Minister, we had hoped that the country’s attention would now be equally divided among all major sports, since it seemed that he did not carry the luggage of selling India’s image to the world as just a cricketing nation.

However, now it is becoming increasingly clear that even Mr Maken has fallen into the same trap. While his attempts to free the sports federations from the control of a few entrenched individuals are praiseworthy, one hopes that at least the national game, hockey, gets the priority it deserves.

Your newspaper, granted that it believes in good and informed journalism, still devotes more column space to Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s shoulder than to the entire Indian hockey team. It is time not only for the Sports Minister but also for the media to get their priorities right. The fate of the national game is more important than an injured shoulder, no matter whose shoulder it is.

SAJAN GUPTA, Gharuan (Mohali)

The editorial, “A silver lining in hockey: Still miles to go for the team” (September 13), has brought out a clear picture of Indian hockey. The hockey players need to be commended for winning the inaugural edition of Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament beating a strong Pakistan side.

But this should be a step towards improving performance to win many important competitions in future.

The players and the officials should work jointly with a single aim of taking the Indian hockey to its previous glorious heights.

The differences between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation must be quickly resolved to achieve the desired goal.

S C VAID, Greater Noida

III

Despite losing some senior players, the Indian hockey team managed to win against a strong Pakistan team. This victory will, one hopes, revive interest not only in hockey but also in other sports.

If more attention is paid to other sports, there is no reason why our players cannot shine. Let’s hope that sports federations manage to resolve their differences and start thinking about India’s pride.

PARMINDER SINGH, Ambala

Terror attacks

While watching the 9/11-memorial service at New York in memory of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, it was evident that the Americans shared with somber dignity the loss of their dear ones as a nation.

Relatives of the victims, officials of the US administration and politicians were together. George W Bush and President Obama were there to participate as a team with their wives. I could not help comparing the event with what had happened to the victims of the terrorist attack at the Delhi High Court only a few days ago.

In our case officials of the administration, politicians and the media reached the scene of the attack and impeded investigation and casualty evacuation.

The attitude of the politicians was to mark their presence and earn brownie points. They did not help in the follow up action. If anything, they were a hindrance.

The casualty evacuation and assistance to the relatives of the victims were being done in an insensitive manner. Where was the disaster management organization of the Delhi administration?

The dead could not be provided the courtesy of being handed over to the next of kin with dignity.

We know it is difficult to prevent terror attacks. But once terrorists strike, the disaster management organization should at least organize quick evacuation of casualties, control the scene of attack and prevent politicians and the media from creating administrative difficulties.

D S DHILLON, Chandigarh

Tales of human apathy
From Patiala in Punjab to Junagadh in Gujarat, the story of apathy in Indian hospitals remains the same. Sheer apathy has led to 23 thalassaemic children getting infected with deadly HIV in Junagadh. Earlier, we in Punjab cannot forget the heart-rending pictures of five infants burnt to death because of a short circuit. That was in a government hospital. Before that, a woman in Chandigarh had delivered a baby on the floor of the maternity ward because she was being made to run from pillar to post even as labour pains were on.

Anyone who reads such news with even the barest of sensitivity cannot but feel the pain of those who become victims of a system that does not care. One thinks that once children are in a hospital, they are at the safest place possible on this planet. Why does that not apply to our hospitals? Is it that due care is now available only for the rich in private and costly hospitals?
Moreover, people have lost faith in inquiries that follow such accidents. These accidents can make people lose faith in doctors and hospitals. Hospital management should keep equipment like ventilators in a good condition. Similarly, it is the responsibility of blood banks to test all donated blood for HIV and other infections.
The citizens should also take it upon themselves to find out the state of equipment, number of doctors, nurses, and stocks of medicines available in government hospitals, which have become notorious for carelessness.
ROOHI SINGH, Sidhra, Jammu