II

There are several challenges before the government but the biggest worry is that workers should get payment on time and should be engaged for a year rather than for 100 days. 

The complaints of corruption should be seriously addressed. Social audit of all welfare plans with the association of active NGOs will help in making the scheme a success.

There is a need for post offices and banks to increase their reach in villages so that the wages get into the beneficiaries’ accounts directly. Grassroots organisations like gram panchayats need to be empowered.

HARISH K. MONGA,

Ferozepur

III

There is need to have a relook at the micro-financing scheme for the poor to earn their livelihood with zero rate of interest instead of subsidies. We need to remove corruption in poverty alleviation programmes. It is satisfying to see that there is no wage discrimination under MNREGA, 2006, and it has removed gender inequality to some extent among the poor beneficiaries.

Prof MM GOEL, Kurukshetra

 Get finance-ready

The Punjab government has taken a loan against the future earnings of PUDA as mentioned in the editorial, ‘Punjab's financial mess’ (February 8). All the state government procurement agencies like Markfed, Punjab Warehouse, Pungrain, Punjab Agro and Punsup which procured wheat under the Atta-Dal Scheme since the crop year 2007-08 onwards have not been reimbursed the payment against deliveries. Similar is the case with Mandi Board which is a procurement regulator.

The Akali government failed to avail itself of the bounties offered by the Centre. They did not stop free electricity supply to farmers which actually is not their demand as they want uninterrupted supply of power during the peak season.

The government also failed to downsize itself in its cheap popularity pursuit. Unplanned grants were made during ‘sangat darshans’. Let all parties aspiring to come to power in March start drawing their plans to set right the battered economy of Punjab by judicious governance.

GURMIT SINGH SAINI, Mohali

Disgraceful act

It was disgusting to read the news report ‘K'nataka ministers caught watching 'porn' in House’. More shocking was the revelation that the persons viewing porn were none other than the representatives of the people and that too in the august House. One of them was the Women and Child Welfare Minister. How well will he save the honour of women and children is anybody's guess.

The punishment they deserve is expulsion from the government and  the party.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Semester system

The semester system initiated by the UGC and implemented by various universities is becoming a headache for teachers as well as students. Policies are not being implemented properly.

To implement the semester system, there should be sufficient manpower as well as a uniform pattern of syllabi. A uniform academic calendar should be followed throughout the country. There should be a four-month teaching period, followed by one-month examination and a month’s holiday in every semester.