BJP shake-up

The charismatic Narendra Modi has suddenly become the darling of the Sangh Parivar. It is clearly visible in the recent rejig by BJP chief Rajnath Singh. With regional satraps busy stepping up the ante, the BJP is feeling the heat. As a result, the saffron party has decided to go back to basics. The Modi camp has managed to get the controversial Amit Shah included in the core group. It underlines the intensity with which post Godhra events would continue to be defended. This could upset vote bank calculations, but the BJP is banking on the split of ‘secular’ bloc amongst its contenders. The BJP seems to have made up its mind, but what about its allies co-passengers and fence-sitters? Modi is not a person to rescind from his ideological pursuits, even if his allies feel differently.

R NARAYANAN, Ghaziabad

Special stamps

Out of 47 multi-coloured commemorative and special postage stamps issued in 2012, 40 were issued in denominations of Rs 5, six in denominations of Rs 20 and one in denomination of Rs 25. On several occasions series of two, four or six stamps were issued all in denominations of Rs 5 each. There should be some fixed criteria for denominations and number of stamps issued on an occasion. There should be only two most common used denominations for commemorative stamps. There should be a fixed number of stamps, say four, to be issued on an occasion if more than one stamp is issued for commemoration.

Since users of different denominations of stamps are different, stamps of only one denomination should be there in a stamp sheet. Miniature sheets should be charged extra, more than the face value of stamps, because of excessive printing costs and being a collectors’ item rather than for general use as postage stamps. Yearly pack of stamps should be in two forms, ordinary one to be sold at combined face value of stamps, and second one costlier in form of an attractive album for affording stamp collectors, which can also be used as gift items and mementoes in educational institutions.

Stamps of all denominations of a new definitive series should be released simultaneously together with a complete set of postal stationary on a particular theme.

MADHU AGRAWAL, Delhi

Rural healthcare

This is in reference to news report 'House panel moots 1-year rural posting for all MBBS grads' (April 1). The suggestions of the Parliamentary Standing Committee are not correct and don’t factor in ground realities of healthcare facilities in rural India. The government has been unable to provide even bare minimum health services in the rural areas where people have to heavily rely on unregistered medical practitioners or quacks. Most of them are not even matriculates.

The Indian Medical Association, which is mired in controversies, has also not been able to do much in this regard. The committee of experts had rightly suggested starting a 3.5-year BSc course called Community Health to ensure provision of trained community health workers in villages. However, fresh MBBS graduates should have mandatory two to three years rural postings. Just opening new medical colleges is not a solution to this severe crunch of medical facilities. It’s a long-term plan and cannot be implemented on a war-footing due to financial constraints and shortage of medical faculty.

HARINDER MITTAL, Bathinda