Education reform

Shelley Walia’s article ‘Charting a New Course’ (March 6) gives a groundbreaking proposal that students be allowed to combine courses in literature and cultural studies with those from other subjects. The idea, if implemented by the UGC, would add greatly to the utility of higher education, and assist the country in becoming a ‘knowledge-based economy’ and a true welfare state. This innovation has the potential to create an international model for an interdisciplinary system of imparting learning where ultimately, arts would rub shoulders with sciences. It would also instantaneously rejuvenate the unfairly neglected arts stream.

The writer mentions that this reform requires large-scale and sustained commitment from the authorities. The investment would be worth the transformation it would bring in the futures of all humanities scholars, students and pedagogues. Despite the allocation of sufficient resources to universities, transformation cannot and will not be seen in the field unless and until such radical measures are put forth, surveyed and implemented by the custodians of our education system.

KAMNA SINGH, Chandigarh

Women in Houses

Population of more than one billion with just eight per cent women in Parliament shows India in poor light. The Women Reservation Bill has been hanging in balance for more than a decade.

  Over 100 countries have constitutional, electoral or political party quotas. In most of the European countries like France, Germany and Italy, major parties have quota systems for their own list of candidates. But shamefully, India, which is considered as one of the biggest democracies in the world, has today fallen far behind.  The worst condition is in the State Assemblies which is a challenge for women on International Women’s Day.

SK KHOSLA, Chandigarh

Spend judiciously

Education has got a major thrust in budget 2012-13 in Haryana with allocation of Rs 8,245.58 crore, showing an increase of Rs 169.59 crore higher than the allocation in the current year. It is reported that higher and secondary education will get a large chunk of this allocation.

It is now important to have a stringent fiscal check over allocation to ensure judicious expenditure. Money should not be allowed to drain off right or left. The government may consider establishing one agency in public sector which can cater to the common needs like furniture, stationery, audio-visual aids and the like of all the institutions.

This will avoid procedure of floating tenders. Sometimes, HoDs avoid purchasing in view of audit objections and some make purchases without adopting fiscal procedures. This will also ensure quality control at reasonable prices at one source. Efforts should be made to make infrastructure available only on order and within stipulated periods.

Dr S KUMAR, Panchkula

Gay issue

Homosexuality is an act starkly against the established norms of nature. Opposite sexes, like opposite poles of magnet attract each other, whereas like poles repel each other. Negative and positive current meet to create light/energy where as same currents create spark/blast.

The gay culture has been imported from the West and the disastrous results are there for everybody to see. As emphasised in the editorial “The gay issue” (March 5) that the gay community has higher ratio of HIV +tive cases, then why not amend Article 377 of IPC by incorporating “sexual act in private between consenting adults of opposite sex only”. The Indian government should be firm in declaring homosexuality as “highly immoral”, as the act is against biological norms as well as a potential threat to the very existence of civilised society.