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

Revamp school education

This has reference to the editorial “Lost: A job and a child” (February 8). The tragic death of an innocent child in Bathinda has once again brought into sharp focus the callous and indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government to the cause of education in the state. What ails school education is lopsided policies and their improper implementation. These include a flawed Right to Education (RTE), inadequate infrastructure, free midday meals, scandals in the department and a massive staff crunch. Various categories of ad hoc and temporary appointments under centrally-sponsored schemes and glaring disparities in their salaries have de-motivated teachers, with a cascading effect on the students. To arrest the deteriorating standard of school education, the government must take firm decisions. It should roll back the proposal to shut down middle schools and keep a tab on the functioning of private schools. It should check wasteful and populist expenditure and spend more on education which is the backbone of a civilised society. The government must not compromise on the qualifications of teachers, should do away with any discrimination in their incomes and fill all posts without delay.

D S Kang, Hoshiarpur

Against medical ethics

Apropos the news item “Bathinda Protest: Child died of exposure to cold, says pvt doctor” (February 10), contesting the Health Department’s statement on the cause of the child's death by Dr Vitull Gupta is against the code of medical ethics. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), an advanced radiological investigating technique, has revealed that the child had suffered from cerebral atrophy and died of infantile tremor syndrome that occurred due to malnutrition. Hence, Dr Gupta's view on the cause of the child's death is uncalled for and non-significant.

Dr Sukhdarshan S Romana, Bathinda

J-K Assembly shame

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his tweet has termed the behaviour of J&K MLAs on February 11 as shameful. When the elected representatives protest in such an unbecoming manner, what message do they convey to the electorate? All political parties are devising strategies for the forthcoming elections. Their only purpose is to befool the public to vote in their favour once again so that they can enjoy the fruits of power by becoming MLAs and ministers. They need to first learn manners and etiquettes.

The leaders talk of the welfare of masses and resort to such populous measures as creating new administrative units to reap electoral gains. They ignore some areas for new administrative units and recommend more units for undeserving areas on political considerations. It reeks of the partisan attitude of the ruling party.

Anshu Mali Gupta, Talab Tillo

No recruitment policy

Even as thousands of young engineers, doctors, teachers and other professionals are passing out every year from various institutes, the Punjab Government does not seem to have a proper recruitment policy. For example, the rise in the retirement age, just a day before the exit of the CMD of the PSPCL, was clearly done to oblige a person who danced to the tunes of his/her master. Such decisions are not linked with performance and are contrary to the BOD’s opinion, which had decided not to the adopt the state government proposal to increase the retirement age of employees from 58 to 60 years.

All technical or non-technical professional organisations of the state should be headed by sector specialists, selected through a procedure similar to that of the Public Enterprises Selection Board.

Er Fateh Pal Singh, Bathinda

Who controls bitcoins?

The article “Arrival of internet currency” (February 10) was very interesting and informative. The writer upgraded the knowledge of the readers regarding the concept of bitcoins or internet currency which is in use in some parts of the world. He explains what bitcoins are, how they can be created and how intra-currency trading can be done. But there is no mention of who controls the bitcoins and its the platforms. There has to be some governing body to provide security to this new currency, like we have the Reserve Bank in India.

Ashok Bahl, Kangra