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

Foreign policy: needed vision for 21st century

It is a matter of grave concern that due to intense domestic politics, Delhi is not paying due attention to its international relations. China is spreading its base on the Indian border but sufficient steps have not been taken to tell China in a strong way to mend her ways. As a matter of fact, India is busy in the five Assembly elections and its result would have strong effect on the Parliament elections in 2014.

But we cannot remain mute spectators and would have to be careful with foreign policy. The situation in Pakistan is in a state of flux and no one know what would happen as there is a clash between the Army, civilian government and judiciary.

HK Dua’s article ‘World won’t wait for India’ (January 30) aptly says that India needs a vision for the 21st century and time to build its economy and military strength. The country also requires consensus among major political parties on security and terrorism.

SUBHASH C TANEJA, Rohtak

Sense of duty

Voters have turned unresponsive, insensitive and apathetic towards casting their priceless votes. Maybe, they have no choice. Every political party seems equally corrupt, dishonest and full of undeserving people.

Dr VINOD K CHOPRA, Hamirpur

National water policy

This is with reference to the editorial ‘Slicing Subsidies’ (February 3). Time has come to frame polices at the national level for optimum use of all natural resources, be it water, electricity, minerals or other ‘precious’ items. There is an urgent need to utilise them to effectively cater to the ever-growing requirements of a growing nation like India having a human population of 1.2 billon.

ARVIND DHUMAL, Jalandhar

Slum-dwellers

The slums, unhygienic dwellings along the roads and in the open spaces in Chandigarh present a pitiable picture. There is garbage all over, no toilets, no anganwaris for poor children and no worthwhile occupation for men and women. The people residing in these shanties suffer from various types of diseases, infections and other ailments. All kind of manufacturing and fabrication units work unnoticed producing food stuff, snacks, chemicals for house cleaning material, washing detergents, polythene items, poor quality paper packings etc. There seems to be no check on these adulterated products.

The scheme of night shelters seems only to exist on paper. It is a matter of shame that many NGOs getting donations and govt aid are doing so little. There is every likelihood of a disaster of sorts being struck any day.

Col MAHESH CHADHA, Panchkula

Role models

The OPED article ‘Wanted: Role models that inspire’ (Feb 4) is very timely on a really important issue. The younger as well as the not-so-old generation is increasingly being sucked into the whirlpool of materialism, greed and consumerism. The ‘success at any cost’ approach and media-fuelled market forces are promoting distorted, degenerated and disfigured cultural, moral, religious and social values corrupting the young minds.

Sense of pride, dignity and honour in serving the nation in any capacity is increasingly becoming the biggest victim. We as a society along with power brokers in politics, bureaucracy and policy-makers have failed to glorify and project our national heroes, martyrs, freedom fighters, intellectuals, social workers as role models for the younger generation. Instead, pop icons, film stars and even social pariahs are being increasingly projected as role models over traditional role models like parents and family members.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bhatinda

Why not adopt the old? Will the setting up of a National Council for Senior Citizens as mentioned in the editorial ‘Ageing population’ (February 4) help old people get unconditional love from their children or fill in the void of loneliness? Merely enacting laws will not suffice. There is a need to educate the young generation on loving and sparing time for their elders. Let us treat our parents and in-laws with love and courtesy. If people who have no children can think of adopting child, why don’t people adopt old people to give them a new lease of life? The family that adopts them will earn their blessings. We should always remember the love and affection the parents bring their children up with and keep in mind the small and big sacrifices our parents made in bringing us up. We should look after our parents lovingly without a grudge in their old age when they need us the most. It gives immense satisfaction and happiness to look after old parents. It is pathetic to see old parents craving for the love of their children and grandchildren. HARISH K MONGA, Ferozepur