Start e-ballot

Apropos the report “EC defends mechanism for defence personnel” (March 11), the provision of postal ballot or proxy voting must be made simpler. The minimum three years’ tenure restriction for defence personnel and the plea of the absence of political campaigning in forward areas are difficult to digest. The borders are being defended by these men at the highest risk to their lives. The EC must provide them the facility of voting. Their registration at the place of posting, whether peace station or forward area, should be allowed without insisting on the cancellation of their earlier registration. Extra expenditure would be justified in the interest of defence. Banks, LIC and other institutions have successful nationwide operations through computer data base management. The EC should start such a system, allowing voters to exercise franchise from anywhere through computer networking.

Babu Ram Dhiman, via email

Ease proxy voting

Only 187 service voters had exercised their franchise by proxy voting in the 2009 General Election.

Proxy voting is a cumbersome procedure. A number of agencies are involved in the processing system, which results in inordinate delays and causes the voter to lose interest in the exercise. The procedure needs to be simplified. A service voter should be required fill only one form in which there is an option for nominating the proxy. The form should be countersigned only by the commanding officer and sent to the returning officer. As far as the lack of interest is concerned, it is suggested that the Election Commission should ask the Ministry of Defence to advise the military commanders to encourage their subordinates to vote by proxy.

Brig LC Jaswal, Shimla

Shocking 1-room school

It is shocking to learn that Shakti Nagar Government Primary School in Kaithal is housed in just one room where 412 students from Class I to IV study in five shifts (“One-room school for 412 students”, March 11). Also, there is just one toilet that is used by the boys, girls and male and female staff members of the school. Even the midday meal is cooked in the classroom on rainy days where classes are held simultaneously. The raw material for the meal is also stored in the same room. Is this the picture that the Right to Education (RTE) Act was enacted for in 2010?

More shameful is that the around 200 chairs and 80 benches that have been allotted to this school are stored in some area provided by the local municipal corporation.

While our children are studying in such shocking, disgraceful and shameful conditions, we still ask why Indian universities do not figure in the top 200 universities of the world. Will any government come to the rescue of such schools and the children studying there?

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh