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Air link crucial

With reference to Perneet Singh’s report “Air connectivity crucial to boosting business in state” (December 31), an essential requirement for any state to be on the global map is to have air connectivity. Without it, global companies are reluctant to set up shop, regardless of the available skilled labour or material incentives. Chandigarh and its surrounding areas provide a highly educated manpower base. But to get jobs, most of them have to move out of Punjab where major international companies are established. Though there is support from other states, without international connectivity, no major company will invest. One back-breaking experience by taxi from the Delhi airport to Chandigarh is a sure turn-off for any global executive.

Punjab offers skilled and hard working labour that can be valuable for the manufacturing sector. The Sirhind-Gobindgarh-Khanna belt is already an established name in the steel industry. So is Ludhiana in light manufacturing. Punjab offers potential in agri-products for export.

To serve these cities, the number of international flights from Amritsar and Chandigarh need to be increased. Several airlines have requested approval for this.

Anmol Singh, Houston (USA)

Quality education needed

This is apropos the news item “More colleges adding unemployment in HP” (December 31). The state government has assumed a substantial role in educating its citizens and providing education for all as a central pillar of the Millennium Development Goals. Quality, rather than quantity, is the need of the hour. Only quantity results in structural unemployment.

The plan to raise the gross enrolment ratio is also a bad step as it will lead to more unemployment. Rather than opening new institutions, the government should focus on the established educational institutions by improving their infrastructure and quality of education. Intake capacities of private universities are increasing annually, thus breaching rules of the AICTE or UGC. They admit more candidates than permitted. A central university can provide better and quality education and help reduce the unemployment rate.

The government should also ensure job security. Strict action is needed against the institutes violating the procedures. Donations for admission should be made illegal.

Nikhil Sharma, Bilaspur

Men’s viewpoint Farooq Abdullah should have, perhaps, avoided it, but what he said wasn't so improper as to earn the wrath of women’s organisations (news report, “Farooq in trouble for sexist remarks; tenders apology”, December 7). Why are some women activists ever ready to accuse men of anything and everything? Don’t they seem unduly biased against men? Even the media gives them full coverage, but it seldom highlights men’s viewpoint. Are all men devils and all women angels? Is it only women who are victims and their dignity in danger? Aren’t men, too, victims of frequent false allegations and their dignity sullied? Don’t we come across false charges of rapes and misuse of the anti-dowry law? Even if the affected men are later acquitted, who will bring back their lost respect and dignity? So, dear women activists, please hold your guns (now don’t haul me up for calling you dear). In your inflated zest to protect the dignity of women, please don't damage the image of men. WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), Jalandhar