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

Innovation in farming holds the key

Haryana has shown the way to the country in the field of agriculture (green revolution), dairy farming (white revolution) and fisheries (blue revolution). Again, the successful experiment of relay cropping (cotton and wheat), which increases per acre productivity, in Sirsa villages is good news for the country and the farmers.

It will be a motivating factor for farmers across the country to adopt this technique of farming. Besides, zero tillage is another productive form of sowing. It not only reduces the cost of cultivation but also prevents burning of paddy/wheat straw/stubble in the fields, thereby protecting micro-nutrients and friendly worms in the soil. Mulching is still another technique to improve soil health and productivity with lesser inputs. Added to this are technologies like drip irrigation.

If India has to remain self-reliant in food production, in addition to relay cropping and zero tillage technologies, it will have to adopt innovative farming techniques like multi-cropping, mixed farming, agro-forestry, agro-horticulture in place of traditional wheat-paddy rotation.

It will not only reduce the cultivation cost but will also enhance productivity by retaining soil health and conserving water. India can experience a second green revolution by adopting such new technologies in agriculture.

Dr PURAN SINGH, Nilokheri

Dr RANJIT SINGH, Ludhiana

Critical thinking course

Education is not only about getting degrees but about applying that knowledge. Himachal Pradesh Technical University has introduced a new course “Principles of Management and Critical Thinking” in its engineering curriculum.

The core critical thinking skills include observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation and explanation.

Students are often passive receptors of information. The flow and availability of information has become very fast theses days. But, the students need a guide to weed through the information and not just accept it passively. Students need to develop and apply critical thinking skills to academics, to the complex problems that they face, and to the critical choices they will be forced to make as a result of the information explosion.

PURNIMA BALI, Shimla

Grit to respond

The grit and determination to take hard decisions when barbaric acts like beheading of a soldier takes place inside our own territory is missing in Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of a democratic country.

Considering the circumstances created by Pakistan, India today needed a leader like Sardar Patel or Lal Bahadur Shastri. In spite of continuous violation of ceasefire, our political leaders say that India will not act in haste.

Would they take action against Pakistan only when some political leaders are killed instead of soldiers? Why has the government become so careless in protecting the lives of soldiers who are being slaughtered like sheep?

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Hamirpur (HP)

II

It is an established fact that the Indian Army has upheld the honour and glory of the country in the most befitting manner since independence. Besides doing an exceptional job on the frontiers and insurgency-infested areas, the army is also the most dependable last resort in any major or minor crises within the country.

The men in uniform have never protested or taken to streets for any of their unfulfilled legitimate demands unlike various other organisations. They have always respected democracy and the decisions of the democratically elected governments even at the cost of sacrificing themselves.

And yet, this institution which has no parallel within the country is treated shabbily by the same government when it comes to fighting for their honour, meeting their requirements of new generation weaponry in the interest of nation or resolving the anomalies of VI CPC.

HARPREET SINGH, Ludhiana

VIP security at people’s expense Our leaders seek protection from those who elected them to office (Brig AN Suryanarayanan’s middle ‘Aam aadmi as a VIP’, January 16). Many politicians, both in and out of power, enjoy X,Y,Z or Z plus securities and they are protected at our expense. If leaders need protection, they should pay from their own pocket. Rules are not bent by the police for protection of an ordinary man. In fact, “aam aadmi” would not be able to lodge an FIR without any political interference. In most of the cases, the fundamental principle of the rule of law is disregarded by the influential, rich, well-connected and the powerful with impunity. This is a vulgar display of power when the common man gets very little protection from criminals. ZAIBBY MANN, Dhuri