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

Goa, J&K typecast in a mould

Speaking at the Goa Arts and Literary Festival, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rued the fact that though Goa and Jammu & Kashmir have much more to offer to the world, both the states have become victims of typecasting.

He couldn’t have been more right for the simple reason that people just don’t tire of projecting things or places in a particular context. Goa, the land of swaying palms and golden beaches, is as famous for its fun-loving people as revelry it offers to others. The heady combination of the sun, the sand, fun and festivities gives one the impression that Goa never goes to sleep, it parties from dawn to night. This is what the tourism brochures worldwide make out Goa to be.   

Similarly, with terrorism shattering peace in the Valley, Kashmir is today synonymous with violence. Kashmir has gone through a political impasse but its own identity has been lost. But to be frank there is more to these two states than the beaches and violence that they are credited with. Goa boasts of a rich cultural heritage which even centuries of colonial rule couldn’t erase.

PACHU MENON, Goa

Preaching, not praying

The news report “Indian mom guilty of killing son over memorising Koran” (December 7) was shocking. We all should try our best to make them good human beings and not just Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Jews, etc.

Thrusting any sort of pressure on innocent kids is a sin. If you don’t handle your own kid with love and sympathy, what can other children expect from you?

It is our duty to make the children healthy, educated, rationalist, co-operative, scientific-minded, and above all good human beings.

PIARA SINGH MANAV, Batala

Cumulative effort

PAU has earned name and fame all over the world, primarily due to the hard work of its students, scientists and farmers of the state. It carries out its well-integrated function of teaching, research and extension activities in agriculture, agricultural engineering, Home Science, veterinary science and allied disciplines. Many dignitaries of developing nations visit PAU to study and emulate its working model to boost agricultural development in their countries.

The right time to rename the university was in November, 1966 when the state was trifurcated. It has taken PAU about four decades to build its brand name which requires to be nourished further by meeting new challenges. The suggestion to rename PAU does not sound appropriate at this stage.

Dr ( Prof)YP GUPTA, Ludhiana

II

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, is a prominent research university of Punjab. But barring a few, PAU graduates are unable to find jobs and finally settle in different occupations. The state government has failed to fill many posts in the Agriculture Department for the last 15 years.

Farmers of Malwa belt are using excessive pesticides with the advice of pesticide companies, there is nobody to guide them in the right direction. The government must make agricultural courses job oriented.

PAU has lot of funds, real scientists are far and few and farmer friendly policies have stopped altogether.

KAMALJIT MALWA, Mansa

Create employment

The HBCC’s recommendation of 10 percent reservation in government jobs for Jats, Jat Sikhs, Bishnois, Rors and Tyagis has failed to amuse the Jats and they have reportedly described it as “ cheating the community” (editorial ‘Politics of quota’, December 14).

The Sarva Jat  Khap Arakshan Samiti has rejected it saying that this announcement is unacceptable to it because the 10 percent reservation would get divided into five castes. It wants 27 percent reservation only for Jats. The other castes like Ahirs, Sainis and Gujjars who already enjoy the OBC status apprehend that their share of reservation (27 percent]) can be easily poached if the HBCC report is implemented.

Rising aspirations and inequitable growth breed social unrest. The state and central government ought to create more lucrative jobs for the youths of Haryana and the common people should not be encouraged to fight with one another along caste lines.

Dr RAJ BAHADUR  YADAV, Fatehabad (Haryana)

Anti-people measure The UPA government’s policy on restricting LPG subsidy is anti-people and the frequent increase in petrol and diesel prices is unwanted. If the government reduces excise duty on petrol and diesel, prices can come down by 5 per cent. The government should add to the income by imposing duty on luxury goods. It would have been better if the price of LPG cylinder was increased by Rs 100 instead of making it cost Rs 941 without subsidy. Why is toll tax imposed on the common man, the government should spend its own money on road maintenance instead of asking commuters to pay up or using World Bank funds. The Punjab Government has increased the bus fare by 20 per cent, whereas the diesel hike is only 5 per cent. Instead of house tax, the state government is imposing property tax. Medicare is highly expensive, the state and Central government have failed to provide ample facilities because of which people have to run to private hospital and medical practitioners. SHER SINGH, Ludhiana