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

Quota within quota needs to be reviewed

Apropos of editorial “Jobs for minorities — criteria for all quotas must be economic” (December 26, 2011), the framers of the Indian Constitution had provided 10 per cent quota in jobs to the SCs/STs for 10 years only. Dr BR Ambedkar never wanted the reservation to continue in perpetuity. He was aware than such illogical steps would undermine human pride and self-respect.

The Union Cabinet recently declared a 4.5 per cent quota for minorities within the 27 per cent OBC quota in the Central government jobs and for admissions to Central government-aided institutions. This, in fact, had been a demand of certain regional political parties to woo voters. It has been rightly pointed out that this step shows political expediency rather than being inspired by any public or national interest. A constitutional Bench needs to examine the terms of caste and religion and their inter-relations so as to interpret the caste-based reservation.

TEK CHAND, Una

Release salaries

It is unfortunate that computer teachers in government schools of Punjab have not been paid their salaries for the past four months. These teachers were regularised in July last year after serving on contractual basis for more than five years. They helped the state to achieve complete computerisation of school education. They worked hard to revolutionise the education scenario besides streamlining the working of various departments affiliated to it. Non-payment of salaries has put these teachers to a lot of inconvenience and mental stress. The government should release their salaries at the earliest and accept their genuine demands.

PROF. RAJAN KAPOOR, Nakodar

Arduous task

This refers to Inder Malhotra’s article “PM’s New Year resolutions, performance alone will matter” (January 5). He is right in saying that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a man whose personal integrity has never been questioned even by his worst critics. But taking action very late on 2G and CWG scams have annoyed the people considerably.

I feel the Anna factor should not have risen so high had a prompt action been taken on the abovesaid scams. Further, the writer has rightly observed that if the Prime Minister does not want last year’s blunders to be repeated in 2012 then he has an arduous task on his hands.

SUBHASH C TANEJA, Rohtak

Target inflation

The editorial “Towards 7% growth” (January 10) deserves attention of the policy makers in Delhi as well as the RBI. In reality, Hindu growth rate of Indian economy is 6% at present as opined by some researchers. Hindu growth rate is a concept used to refer to the low annual growth rate of the socialist economy of India before 1991, which stagnated around 3.5% from 1950s to 1980s, while per capita income growth averaged 1.3%.

We need to concentrate on self-created hurdles comprising corruption, population and inflation. We are required to adopt inflation targeting measures, manpower planning and good governance at all levels of operation in the economy. To give impetus to growth, we need to start a crusade against built-in corruption in poverty alleviation programmes, with which we can raise, at least, 2% growth rate without additional resource allocation.

DR MM GOEL, Kurukshetra

Time to change

Since our politicians have got no principles on which they should run the administration, they are utilising other means to woo voters. We have seen that names given to parks, institutions, roads or even universities are also basis for attracting voters and one Chief Minister has even constructed statues of her own so that people could remember her during her lifetime and even after she is no more. Time has come when we should base our politics on principles and not on these cheap methods.

DALIP SINGH WASAN, Patiala

Shimla no longer Queen of Hills There was a time when people of Shimla used to feel proud of the titles given to it by the British — the Summer Capital of India and the Queen of Hills. But now, this city is in a state when its beauty, historical identity and safety of local people are at stake. The tunnels, roads and old buildings designed by the British are in bad shape. Some of the old buildings are on the verge of collapse. There are hundreds of such buildings from Lower Bazar to Lakkar Bazar, The Mall to Chaura Maidan, US Club, Nabha, Kasumpti, Summer Hill and Chhota Shimla to Sanjauli. These should be declared unsafe as the maximum population is residing in these areas and they are operating their businesses and offices from these unsafe buildings. The government must take steps for the safety and security of the people and restore the beauty of Shimla. BHANUPRIYA SINGH THAKUR, Delhi