Pet dogs should be easily and cheaply available so that every section of society can afford them. In this manner, the stray dogs will be eliminated and people can express their love and care for animals at home.

Lt-Col JASJIT SINGH GILL, Ludhiana

II

Experts feel that mass vaccination and sterilisation of dogs, often advocated by animal lovers, is an impossible solution to achieve. Whatever measures like killing of stray dogs, vaccination or sterilisation we adopt, we need to cover about 70% of the dog population to make it effective. Unless some radical measures are adopted to control this menace, lives of human beings will be under threat and many more will die of rabies or suffer horrors of dangerous bites.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bhatinda

III

The dog menace was brought to the notice of the Punjab Human Rights Commission which disposed of the case by ordering the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, to take appropriate action under the law.

The Animal Husbandry Department came into action for a while and started the sterilisation drive on a very small scale and then, citing some financial/ planning constraint, stopped everything.

The problem is of a much higher scale and must be studied threadbare. Why dogs have turned into man-eaters is a moot question.

Dr DALER SINGH MULTANI, via e-mail

Uniform tax policy It would be a welcome step if the proposed uniform tax policy for vehicles put forth by the Union government and endorsed by some of the states is made applicable throughout the country. There is a big variation in the prevailing rates in different states. There is a big difference in state tax rates not only for cars but also for petroleum products. Since there is no uniformity in sales tax, the consumers living in different states of the country have to pay differently for the same products. This variation also results in large-scale smuggling of products from one state to another. To save the people from this unequal taxation, there is need for a uniform tax structure. Only the Union government with the consent of state governments can kill two birds with one stone by asking all the state governments to introduce a uniform tax structure. SK KHOSLA, Chandigarh

Kashmir perspective

Depiction of Pakistan facing ‘near implosion’ in the article ‘J&K 2013-15 and beyond’ (January 17) by BG Verghese is irrelevant and malicious. He chooses to ignore the disputed nature of J&K. Unless the future of the state is decided by the Kashmiris, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, any solution of the Kashmir dispute will not be durable. Pakistan has always stood for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and has advocated associating the Kashmiris in any discussion on the subject.

ABRAR H. HASHMI, Delhi

Drugs in jails

The drug menace pervading the jails in Punjab has jeopardised the lives of prisoners who are increasingly becoming victims of drug abuse. The jail authorities should review the use of security gadgets like X-ray machines and metal detectors for screening jail inmates. It is a matter of shame that illegal activities are going on inside the jails, which, in the real term, are said to be ‘sudhar ghars’.

HARPREET SANDHU, Ludhiana

II

Something is seriously wrong with the way prisons are being run. Rampant corruption among jail officials and guards is the sole cause for the mess. Can anything reach the prison without the connivance of the jail staff? Certainly systematic changes are needed to end the shortage of space, staff and funds. Sadly, most of the prisoners remain under trial for years before their guilt is established.