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

GNDU eager to promote sports culture

The Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, has a history of promoting sports culture in the country. In the news item “Athletes allege GND varsity of leaving them in lurch” (August 20), two kayaking players have allegedly charged GNDU of dumping them. The concerned players, Arjun K Sharma and Lalit Khushwaha, sought admission in DAV College, Amritsar, for the session 2011-12 in BA (I). In a letter sent to them in 2012, the principal asked them to submit their examination fee, failing which the college could not be held responsible for striking out their names.

Both these candidates requested the principal to return their original certificates deposited with the university registration branch as they wanted to join the armed forces. On their request, the principal asked the university authorities to hand over the originals to the candidates, which they received against their signatures.

On March 28, 2012, both the players had received a cash prize of Rs 42, 500 each for winning medals at the All-India Inter-University Championship as per GNDU’s policy. The concerned college and the GNDU took good care of both the players. The decision to withdraw their original certificates from the university was their own.

Prof KANWALJIT SINGH, GNDU, Amritsar

Failing medical health

News report “Here, arranging anaesthetist is a patient’s job” (August 28) has rightly shown the great deficit of good health care service in Punjab. This is a true and sad story of health care in Punjab. There is improper planning at higher level, which is also visible at Community Health centre, Makhu (Ferozepur) where the state government has established a big multi-speciality hospital with a budget of more than Rs 5 crore. The hospital is running with only one newly-inducted lady doctor. There is no provision of residence for doctor or staff working in the hospital. All posts of doctors are lying vacant.

One can well imagine how a 24-hr emergency service would be managed in a multi speciality referral level hospital like this? Many more such examples abound in rural Punjab. Public health care for rural people is still a distant dream. When will we all get qualitative treatment at govt hospitals?

Dr MANDEEP SINGH MADHO, Ferozepur

Cyber security

Cyber crimes are critical in many sensitive sectors like country’s security agencies, power grids, taxation and financial institutions (editorial “Cyber cautions”, August 25). After the power grid failure, the government has proposed to set up the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIPC) to protect the power system. Similarly, cyber security should be institutionalised in taxation and finance sectors as well.

The importance of this issue can be gauged from the experience of developed countries. US investigative agency FBI director Robert Mueller has stated that cyber threat will be the “threat of tomorrow”. We should keenly study international examples like the US cyber command in America, the European network and the information security agency of the European Union. The Punjab government is insisting on online billing for industry and trade. The idea is self defeating in the wake of cyber crimes and computer hacking.

PD SHARMA, Ludhiana

A part of society

The editorial “Vrindavan widows” (August 17) evoked a sad experience of my visit to Vrindavan last year. I witnessed at a glance hundreds of young and old women, all clad in white, busy in some manual work. Some were just idling away. Behind their wizened appearance, cupped hands for alms and tight lips, there seemed to be a story revealing the idiosyncrasy of fate. In fact, these destitute widows and also rib-caged stray cows, both are in a bad shape in Vrindavan, the sanctum associated with Lord Krishna, the incarnate of justice and righteousness. This humiliated section of us human beings remains steeped in apathy.

RAVI DATTA, Jawalamukhi (Kangra)

“Itna sannata kyon hai, bhai”
It is sad that Bollywood’s veteran actor A K Hangal’s son Vijay had to seek help from others to clear his medical bills before he passed away recently. Hangal had to even ‘walk’ the ramp in a wheel chair just a year ago to raise some money for his treatment. Does it not tickle our conscience?
It is also surprising that none of the prominent Bollywood personalities attended Hangal’s last rites. Does it not reflect the selfish attitude of our heroes and heroines? When a colleague dies, the departed soul needs to be respected, irrespective of his wealth, status or ideology. I&B Minister, Ambika Soni, paid rich tributes to Hangal Saab when she said “Indian cinema has lost a towering personality, who was also a highly endearing human being”, so did Shabana Azmi, Raza Murad, Rakesh Bedi, Illa Arun etc. But, where were dozens of heroes and heroines who don’t miss a chance to be seen wherever there is media glare and VIP presence?
It is now that Hangal’s soul must be really muttering in the grave “Itna sannata kyon hai, bhai’ (Why is there so much of silence?). A K Hangal will always be remembered as an endearing actor who excelled in character roles and was committed to his work.
Col RD SINGH (retd), Ambala Cantt