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

TMC departure a blessing in disguise

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has emphasised the necessity of harsher measures to augment employment, education, health and infrastructure, while warning at the same time that the subsidy on oil and gas is becoming insupportable (Apropos the editorial ‘Back at the wheels’, September 22). Even in 1991 the reforms proved the opposition wrong and the farmers, consumers and companies had gained and the infrastructure and employment scenario has grown brighter.

Indirectly Dr Singh has once again attacked the opposition’s duplicitous and uncaring attitude towards public well-being, as the opposition continues to play the politics of disruption and bandhs, which only cause dislocation and financial loss to everyone. Let us hope Trinamool Congress’s withdrawal of support from UPA-II proves a blessing in disguise and with more reforms and better governance the UPA improves the national credibility in the global market and fulfils the aspirations of aam aadmi within the country.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

Unwanted freebies

The pitiable plight of the Punjab government’s working was depicted in a right manner in your newspaper. The industry is getting squeezed under the welfare prorammes of the state government. The Punjab government is continuing with freebies though its finances are in a perilous condition.

The state government is pumping out its treasure through freebies and is burdening the business community with unjustified tax collections. The state is sinking in a debt due to the so-called welfare schemes. Leakages are occurring at the highest level. Our leaders at the time of Independence had a great vision. When our Constitution was being adopted, Dr Rajendra Prasad said, “We have prescribed high standards of qualifications for those who are to implement the policies and none for those who are to make policies. This single factor seems to be responsible for the sorry state of affairs being witnessed in the country.”

Freebies are resulting in malfunctioning. The first and foremost victim of this is the industry of the state. In the deepening global economic crisis governments all over are providing fiscal packages so that industries remain afloat. On the contrary, the Punjab government is increasing the tax burden and adopting most stringent tax collecting procedures. With this industry is getting weakened on the one hand and is getting demoralised on the other. The general public is also feeling the severe pinch of freebies by way of power outages and other attendant miseries.

PD SHARMA, email

Soldiers and stress

The Indian soldier is capable of taking all stress and strains of his service in his stride. The army leadership is sensitive and understanding (The editorial, September 12). His in-service problems receive the required attention and are usually redressed firmly and promptly. The denial of leave is a very rare occurrence provided the exigencies of service are not a constraint. Still, it is felt that a comprehensive mechanism must be put in place where the serviceman puts his service and domestic problems without any apprehensions regarding their disposal. Minimum time should be taken in solving soldiers’ problems. The aim should be to reassure the affected jawan that he would receive bias-free and prompt follow-up action on his problems.

Social values are diminishing by the day in the present social environment in the country. Most of the men come from the rural areas. The traditional joint-family system is not there to look after young wives and children. They are vulnerable in the prevailing state of society. There is an urgent need to sensitise the civil administration by the Defence Ministry and the Army through periodic liaison meetings, letters to all state governments and through the media and posters requesting a fair and prompt disposal of matters involving servicemen. The organisational support would definitely go a long way in expediting the cases of servicemen. The nation can’t afford to lose their soldiers in such a manner.

NAUHAN SINGH, Ludhiana

An eye-opener

The editorial “City beautiful, once more: UT insistence on ‘83 Act was disturbing” (September 21) was an eye-opener for the residents of Chandigarh as to why the “disturbed area” tag was attached to it in the days of terrorism in the region which was never removed until the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed it the other day. It is shameful that the officers at the higher levels intentionally did nothing to repeal the Disturbed Area Act from Chandigarh only to continue having extra/special powers and security for their own selves.

More shameful is the fact that the employees of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh posted at Chandigarh got nothing as special under the Disturbed Area Act of 1983. The government must think on this issue and pay all arrears under the head “Disturbed Area Allowance” since 1983 till the removal of the same. This should be given even to those who have since retired from the services.

RK KAPOOR, Chandigarh