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

Wrong move

Reference to “Split done, now to settle alimony” by Suresh Dharur (Sunday Tribune, August 4), linguistic identity alone is not enough to bind people. The creation of Telangana will set a wrong precedent. These fissiparous tendencies can be checked if administration is effectively carried out till the grassroots level. If the aspirations of people are addressed timely by the government, they would not raise a voice for separation. Such demands arise only when a section of the population feels alienated. The government should improve governance rather than split states.

Shirpa Nagrath, mail

II

The decision to grant statehood to Telangana with an eye on the forthcoming elections has opened the Pandora's box of similar demands. The agitations will only vitiate the atmosphere. The Congress' gamble may pay off in Telangana, but it is set to face electoral loss in Andhra Pradesh. The decision is also unlikely to go down well with other voters as it gives an impression that parties do not care about the fallout of any important decision, so long as it strengthens their vote bank.

Ravinder Singh, Jalandhar

Mere puppets

It is clear that IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal was suspended not because of any wrongdoing on her part, but because of her cracking down on the sand mafia (“The importance of being Durga”; Sunday Tribune, August 4). To divert public attention from his high-handed attitude, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has put the entire blame on her. A credible inquiry should have been ordered and conducted to decide on her suspension. There should be safeguards against such victimisation of conscientious officers.

Satwant Kaur, Mahilpur

II

Why such a hue and cry for Durga Shakti alone? The IAS association doesn't think twice before transferring anyone in uniform. Why the double standard? When honest people get transferred or sidelined in promotion, why do bureaucrats close their eyes? It seems they only want to shield their own people. The cry for justice should come in all cases where honest officers are targeted.

Shashi Yadav, Amritsar

Education, redefined

Apropos the review “Lessons that educationists need to learn” (Spectrum, August 4), the true value of education is to help a person grow into a good human. It extends much wider than simply producing skilled manpower for industrial operations. Unfortunately, education is increasingly focusing on imparting technical skills though it is for vocational institutes to do that.

CK Kim, Seoul

II

If the term “market-oriented education” is used to mean that students coming out from these institutes will fulfil the needs of the market for workers who can bring better profits to owners, it should be called “job training”. Education is for the overall development of a human, not just for a job. Education should help wake up a child to his or her “latent” existence in the universe.

Himendra Thakur, US

Fighting addiction

Reference to the article, “Education brings hope to the den of addicts” by Perneet Singh (Sunday Tribune, August 4), the efforts of NGOs and social activists are appreciable as they support the children of addicts and impart education. But there are many Maqboolpuras in Punjab that are suffering from the evil of addiction. The problem should be tackled by striking at the root from where it emanates. The government must crack down on drug lords, financiers and peddlers. The youth should be protected from the menace of addiction to spare their families any pain.

SC Vaid, Greater Noida