|
|
|
|
|
Success vs morals
Apropos the BJP defence of Modi, I agree that the matter being private, his relationship with Jashodaben is best left to the two of them. The real issue for the public is that if the marital status now filed is right, the previous declarations filed on oath before the EC for Assembly elections were false. Conversely, if those were true, the present one is false. Either way, it becomes a serious issue. A government officer caught repeatedly filing false declarations, even an personal matters, would be dubbed as an officer lacking integrity and unfit to hold public office and thrown out of service. In Modi’s case, it is not a matter of an inadvertent error. It would be interesting to watch the reaction of the EC/ judicial authorities in this case. More importantly, the discerning public must reflect whether the euphoria created on Modi is justified: it is a choice between a successful but morally deficient person and a good and morally sound person as the next PM of India! Supinder Bedi, Dehradun Remote women teachers This refers to the article
“Serving in Remote Areas” (March 17). For a female government teacher, such a posting dissuades her from joining the job in the first place. It, thus, mocks the appointment process and claims of equal rights given to men and women. With no political party ready to take the responsibility of her security, a female employee, who is posted 300-400 km away from home, is much more vulnerable as compared to her male counterparts. Her children and the ailing elderly folks back home suffer; her mental and emotional health gets disturbed, affecting her performance at work. Walking alone through kutcha roads with poor mobile connectivity poses another challenge. However, politically favoured government teachers rarely leave their hometowns. Clearly, the government has no fixed criteria for station allotment. The difference in the physicality and social responsibilities of both the genders should be affirmatively addressed. If the government intends to empower women and ensure quality education in the real sense, the rule of appointing female teachers within 50 km from home should be adopted. Paying a heavy price for being a woman, she is sometimes forced to leave the job. Women’s voices have been silenced far too long. Perhaps, they are not that important after all! Or, is the government just waiting for a government teacher to get raped to wake up from its slumber? Sulakshna Sharma, Palampur
|
|
|
Abolish property tax Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa’s recent statement to abolish property tax if the Congress comes to power in Punjab gives some hope to the helpless and harassed people. This tax was imposed by the SAD-BJP government vide the ordinance dated September 20, 2013, with retrospective effect from April 1, 2013. Instead of following prudent fiscal discipline and curbing wasteful expenditure, the government imposed tax on land and buildings in municipal corporations. This tax is likely to be a source of harassment and litigation for the common public and strengthen inspector raj. It requires every owner/occupier of immovable property to file the return and pay the tax thereon every year, depending upon the area and use of property. Non-payment attracts 50 per cent penalty, apart from 18 per cent interest. Though it is called municipal tax, it is more like income tax and wealth tax which are already imposed by the Central government and which cannot be imposed by a state government. While the government has ignored the protests against this tax, it is requested to respect public sentiment and abolish the tax. Jai Gopal, Mumbai Eat healthy The demands of the rapidly changing economy have transported us from large and open village homes to the metropolitan flat culture. This has not only disconnected us from the healthy rural surroundings, but also shortened the space, that children once used to play games. This has led to an indoor culture for our children and a huge change in their food habits. The diet of choori, makhan and lots of milk has been replaced by Bournvita, Complan, Vitamin-D tablets and other health supplements. Advertisements by manufacturers of these supplements represent even a natural item such as milk as incomplete without the use/mix of their product in it. And the ads are broadcast more on cartoon channels to lure innocent children. Modern moms, due to their job-oriented lifestyle, find it hard to provide proper nutrition for their children who have no interest in green vegetables, milk, curd etc. Alternatives such as cereals, milk products, dry fruits or natural foods (vegetables, milk etc) made in appealing recipes could be beneficial. Health supplements could be useful as an additional diet option, but not as a replacement of the natural diet. Jaideep Sra, Chandigarh Choose the best We are frustrated with the Indian political system. We protested in the streets, organised movements, went on hunger strikes and ranted on the social media. We are fed up with corruption and the quality of parliamentarians. Now, it is time to get into action, walk to the booth and vote for change and vote for only the right candidate. Our job is to ensure that our elected representative is not a murderer, rapist or corrupt. Choose the best, enjoy the best. R.M.MITTAL, Mohali
|
|||
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
