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MSP, PDS system need overhaul
While the wheat MSP should be around Rs 1,800 per quintal to benefit the farmers, the PDS system needs a total overhaul by plugging existing loopholes to make subsidised food available to the actual beneficiaries. Diversification of crops, as rightly observed in the editorial
‘The wheat MSP’ (December 28), is not feasible in Punjab and Haryana where the experience in sugarcane and tomatoes ended in a fiasco. The government failed to ensure a support price, consequently the farmers were exploited at the hands of private traders. As it is, the farmers and farm labour are the most vulnerable. The editorial earnestly asks the Centre to maintain a balance between the needs of the farmers and consumers in view of the fact that agriculture is not a remunerative profession these days and consumers are hit hard by spiralling prices. There is a dire need of picking up surplus wheat from northern states like Punjab and Haryana to be supplied to deficit states to create more storage space and to avoid huge loss of edible foodgrains in unscientifically-built warehouses. GURMIT SINGH
SAINI,
Focus on farming
The new government in Himachal Pradesh should set its priorities right to come up to the aspirations of the people (editorial
‘A new beginning', December 26). It should focus on the development of the state. Horticulture, fruit and vegetable production should be taken up in a massive way. Diversification to fruits and off-season vegetables can transform the lives of farmers in view of FDI knocking at their doors.
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The Congress High Command intends to cash in on its Himachal victory in the next election of 2014. It may come about only if economic growth takes new direction in Himachal to become another Gujarat. RM RAMAUL, Paonta Sahib II Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has virtually performed an electoral miracle delivering what he promised to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi prior to his nomination as chief of the party’s state unit. The voters do get carried away by charismatic, strong local leaders and do not mind re-electing them even if they are tainted, as the editorial ‘Gujarat stays with Modi’ (December 21) rightly suggests. TARA CHAND, Ambota, Una III The HP election results were not impressive. The margin of victory of the Congress party of 2 seats to gain a majority in the Assembly was unspectacular. People turned a blind eye to issues like corruption and price rise. The parties did not raise any tangible problems like, monkey menace and closure of government schools due to privatisation of education. Innovation in polity was abysmally low. Factionalism and rivalry in both the parties played a divisive role upto the hilt. National parties like BSP, NCP, AIIC and LJP failed to open an account in the state. Much hope on HLP, a breakaway group of BJP, was dashed. RIKHI DASS THAKUR, Hamirpur IV The Himacal Pradesh Chief Minister needs to set his priorities right now --- zero tolerance to corruption, quick delivery system of public services, alert and efficient policing, infuse technological inputs in education, development and justice delivery, create multi-dimensional employment opportunities for the growing young population and save the culturally-rich state from mafias. These and many such other issues need to be addressed on a time-bound basis. TEK CHAND, Una Fix responsibility The hyperbolic utterances of the politicians and the government are no balm to half the population of India and their families. The need is to make the ordinary woman feel comfortable and breathe in a fearless atmosphere. We are talking of amending laws, but more important is the role of fixing responsibility, whenever a crime is committed against any woman. Not only the police, but the social, political, judicial and executive powers must be made answerable to any heinous activity. Once responsibility is fixed, the punishment should come in early so that justice is seen to be done. Prof MK SHARMA, Amritsar II In the wake of the Delhi gang-rape, there are chances that stricter and stronger laws will be put into place. The only fear is that the same could be used against innocent and weak persons. In criminal cases, judicial proceedings depend largely on police inquiries. There is the need to weed out the wrong persons in our judicial system and bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of the police from top to bottom. HARMEET SINGH DHILLON, Kharar
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